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.

   • c. 1605-1608, William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens

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

Translations

sharing parents

• Bulgarian: роден (bg) (roden)
• French: germain (fr) m, germaine (fr) f
• Georgian: ღვიძლი ძმა (ɣviʒli ʒma), ღვიძლი და (ɣviʒli da), ღვიძლი (ɣviʒli)
• Greek: αμφιθαλής (el) (amfithalís)
• Norman: gèrmain

• Portuguese: germano (pt)
• Russian: кро́вный брат m (króvnyj brat), кро́вная сестра́ f (króvnaja sestrá)
• Spanish: hermano carnal

First cousin

• French: germain (fr) m, germaine (fr) f
• Macedonian: пр́в бра́тучед m (pŕv brátučed), пр́ва бра́тучедка f (pŕva brátučedka)
• Norman: gèrmain

• Russian: двою́родный брат (ru) m (dvojúrodnyj brat), двою́родная сестра́ (ru) f (dvojúrodnaja sestrá)
• Spanish: primo carnal

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

A near relative

• French: germain (fr) m, germaine (fr) f

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

• German (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Engram, Magner, Manger, engram, manger, ragmen

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Icelandic

Noun

german n (genitive singular germans, no plural)

1. germanium (chemical element)

Declension

declension of german

n-s	singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	german	germanið
accusative	german	germanið
dative	germani	germaninu
genitive	germans	germansins

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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

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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

• nemțesc

Noun

german m (plural germani, feminine equivalent germană)

1. a German person

Synonyms

• neamț

Related terms

• germană