LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neuterthird declension

germen

germen n (genitive germinis)
Classical[ˈɡɛr.mɛn]Ecclesiastical[ˈd͡ʒɛr.men]

Meaning

  1. neutershoot, sprout, bud
  2. neutergerm, seed, origin
  3. neuterembryo, fetus

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativegermengermina
genitivegerminisgerminum
dativegerminīgerminibus
accusativegermengermina
ablativegerminegerminibus
vocativegermengermina

germen, ĭnis, n. Sanscr. root grabh-, grah-, to conceive; garbh-as, child; whence, βρέφος (for γρέφος), germanus, perh. gremium,
I. a sprig, offshoot, sprout, bud (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
I. Lit.: huc aliena ex arbore germen Includunt, Verg. G. 2, 76: serotino germine malus, tardissimo suber, Plin. 16, 25, 41, § 98; Vulg. Deut. 11, 17 et saep.—In plur.: inque novos soles audent se germina tuto Credere, Verg. G. 2, 332; Plin. 18, 10, 21, § 94: auctumni maturet germina Virgo, fruits, Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 465: impleratque uterum generoso germine, fœtus, embryo, Ov. M. 9, 280; so, celsa Tonantis, i. e. daughter, Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 76: servile, Just. 18, 3 fin.; and of puppies, whelps, Nemes. Cyneg. 155.—
B. Transf.: cara maris, i. e. precious stones, Claud. Ep. ad Ser. 14: frontis, i. e. a horn, id. Rapt. Pros. 1, 129.—
II. Trop., a germ: rabies unde illaec germina surgunt, Lucr. 4, 1083: germen ab aethere trahere, origin, Prud. Cath. 10, 32: germine nobilis Eulalia, id. στεφ. 3, 1.

Origins

From earlier *genmen via dissimilation, from Proto-Italic *genamen, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁mn̥ (“offspring”, “seed”), from the root *ǵenh₁- (“to beget”, “to give birth”). Equivalent to gignō (“to beget”) + -men (noun-forming suffix). Compare with genimen.

Descendants
  • Italiangerme
  • Catalangermen
  • Englishgerm
  • Englishgermen
  • Frenchgerme
  • Occitangèrme
  • Portuguesegerme
  • Romaniangermen
  • Spanishgermen
  • Galicianxerme

Quick answers

What does germen mean in Latin?
germen, a noun, means “shoot, sprout, bud; germ, seed, origin; embryo, fetus”.
What is the genitive of germen?
The genitive singular is germinis. germen is neuter, third declension.
How do you pronounce germen?
In classical Latin, [ˈɡɛr.mɛn]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈd͡ʒɛr.men].