Chapter Germ to Gesture of G by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Germ to Gesture

Germ
(Germ) n. [F. germe, fr. L. germen, germinis, sprout, but, germ. Cf. Germen, Germane.]

1. (Biol.) That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the earliest form under which an organism appears.

In the entire process in which a new being originates . . . two distinct classes of action participate; namely, the act of generation by which the germ is produced; and the act of development, by which that germ is evolved into the complete organism.

Carpenter.

2. That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty.

Disease germ (Biol.), a name applied to certain tiny bacterial organisms or their spores, such as Anthrax bacillus and the Micrococcus of fowl cholera, which have been demonstrated to be the cause of certain diseases. See Germ theory — Germ cell (Biol.), the germ, egg, spore, or cell from which the plant or animal arises. At one time a part of the body of the parent, it finally becomes detached,and by a process of multiplication and growth gives rise to a mass of cells, which ultimately form a new individual like the parent. See Ovum. — Germ gland. (Anat.) See Gonad. — Germ stock (Zoöl.), a special process on which buds are developed in certain animals. See Doliolum. — Germ theory (Biol.), the theory that living organisms can be produced only by the evolution or development of living germs or seeds. See Biogenesis, and Abiogenesis. As applied to the origin of disease, the theory claims that the zymotic diseases are due to the rapid development and multiplication of various bacteria, the germs or spores of which are either contained in the organism itself, or transferred through the air or water. See Fermentation theory.

Germ
(Germ) v. i. To germinate. [R.] J. Morley.

Germain
(Ger*main") a. [Obs.] See Germane.

German
(Ger"man) a. [OE. german, germain, F. germain, fr. L. germanus full, own (said of brothers and sisters who have the same parents); akin to germen germ. Cf. Germ, Germane.] Nearly related; closely akin.

Wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion.

Shak.

Brother german. See Brother german. — Cousins german. See the Note under Cousin.

German
(Ger"man), n.; pl. Germans (#) [L. Germanus, prob. of Celtis origin.]

1. A native or one of the people of Germany.

2. The German language.

3. (a) A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures. (b) A social party at which the german is danced.

High German, the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, — comprising Old High German, used from the 8th to the 11th century; Middle H. G., from the 12th to the 15th century; and Modern or New H. G., the language of Luther's Bible version and of modern German literature. The dialects of Central Germany, the basis of the modern literary language, are often called Middle German, and the Southern German dialects Upper German; but High German is also used to cover both groups. — Low German, the language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, — including Friesic; Anglo- Saxon or Saxon; Old Saxon; Dutch or Low Dutch, with its dialect, Flemish; and Plattdeutsch spoken in many dialects.

German
(Ger"man), a. [L. Germanus. See German, n.] Of or pertaining to Germany.