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german definition

ger·man (jʉr′mən)

adjective

closely related: now chiefly in compounds, meaning
  1. having the same parents a brother-german
  2. having the same grandparents on either the father's side or the mother's a cousin-german is a first cousin

Etymology: ME germain, german < OFr germain < L germanus, akin to germen, a sprout, germ

German definition

Ger·man (jʉr′mən)

noun

  1. a person born or living in Germany
  2. the West Germanic language spoken chiefly in Germany, Austria, and certain parts of Switzerland, technically called New High German
    1. a complicated dance for many couples in which partners are changed often
    2. a party at which the german is danced

Etymology: ME (only in pl.) < ML Germanus < L, prob. < Celt

adjective

of Germany or its people, language, or culture

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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