german

See also: German and Germán

English

Etymology 1

From Old French germain, from Latin germānus. See also germane, a formal variant which has survived in specific senses. Not related to the proper noun German.

Adjective

german (comparative more german, superlative most german)

  1. (obsolete except in set terms) Having the same mother and father; a full (brother or sister).
    brother-german
  2. (obsolete except in set terms) Being born to one’s blood aunt or uncle, a first (cousin).
    cousin-german
    • 1567 Arthur Golding trans., Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 1, lines 460-2:
      The doubtfull wordes whereof they scan and canvas to an fro.
      Which done, Prometheus sonne began by counsell wise and sage
      His cousin germanes fearfulnesse thus gently to asswage:
  3. (obsolete) Closely related, akin.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter xj, in Le Morte Darthur, book II:
      After this Merlyn told vnto kynge Arthur of the prophecye / that there shold be a grete batail besyde Salysbury and Mordred his owne sone sholde be ageynste hym / Also he tolde hym that Basdemegus was his cosyn and germayn vnto kynge Vryence
    • 1602, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, V.2:
      The phrase would bee more Germaine.
    • Shakespeare
      Wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion.
Translations

Noun

german (plural germans)

  1. (obsolete) A near relative.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.viii:
      Which when his german saw, the stony feare / Ran to his hart, and all his sence dismayd […]
Translations

Etymology 2

From German (“of Germany”).

Noun

german (plural germans)

  1. An elaborate round dance, often with a waltz movement.
    • 1985, Betty Casey, Dance Across Texas (page 49)
      Through the years, though, the german was replaced by new and more popular dances, but in many instances the name stayed on.
  2. A social party at which the german is danced.

Further reading

Anagrams

Icelandic

Noun

german n (genitive singular germans, no plural)

  1. germanium (chemical element)


This Icelandic entry was created from the translations listed at germanium. It may be less reliable than other entries, and may be missing parts of speech or additional senses. Please also see german in the Icelandic Wiktionary. This notice will be removed when the entry is checked. (more information) November 2009

Polish

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡɛr.man/
  • audio(file)

Noun
Chemical element
Ge Previous: gal (Ga)
Next: arsen (As)

german m inan

  1. germanium, a chemical element

Declension
declension of german
singular
nominative german
genitive germanu
dative germanowi
accusative german
instrumental germanem
locative germanie
vocative germanie

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Germānus.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /d͡ʒerˈman/

Adjective

german m or n (feminine singular germană, masculine plural germani, feminine and neuter plural germane)

  1. German

Declension
declension of german
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative		 indefinite german germană germani germane
definite germanul germana germanii germanele
genitive/
dative		 indefinite german germane germani germane
definite germanului germanei germanilor germanelor

Synonyms

Noun

german m (plural germani, feminine equivalent germană)

  1. a German person

Synonyms
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.