Germanium Ger·ma"ni·um noun [ New Latin , from Latin Germania Germany.] (Chemistry) A rare element, recently discovered (1885), in a silver ore ( argyrodite ) at Freiberg. It is a brittle, silver-white metal, chemically intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, resembles tin, and is in general identical with the predicted ekasilicon . Symbol Ge. Atomic weight 72.3.

Germanization Ger`man·i·za"tion noun The act of Germanizing. M. Arnold.

Germanize Ger"man·ize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Germanized ; present participle & verbal noun Germanizing .] To make German, or like what is distinctively German; as, to Germanize a province, a language, a society.

Germanize Ger"man·ize intransitive verb To reason or write after the manner of the Germans.

Germarium Ger·ma"ri·um noun [ New Latin See Germ .] (Zoology) An organ in which the ova are developed in certain Turbellaria.

Germen Ger"men (jẽr"mĕn) noun ; plural English Germens , Latin Germina . [ Latin ] See Germ .

Germicidal Ger"mi·ci`dal (jẽr"mĭ*sī`d a l) adjective Germicide.

Germicide Ger"mi·cide (jẽr"mĭ*sīd) adjective [ Germ + Latin caedere to kill.] (Biol.) Destructive to germs; -- applied to any agent which has a destructive action upon living germs, particularly bacteria, or bacterial germs, which are considered the cause of many infectious diseases. -- noun A germicide agent.

Germinal Ger"mi·nal adjective [ See Germ .] Pertaining or belonging to a germ; as, the germinal vesicle. Germinal layers (Biol.) , the two layers of cells, the ectoblast and entoblast, which form respectively the outer covering and inner wall of the gastrula. A third layer of cells, the mesoblast, which is formed later and lies between these two, is sometimes included. -- Germinal membrane . (Biol.) Same as Blastoderm . -- Germinal spot (Biol.) , the nucleolus of the ovum. -- Germinal vesicle , (Biol.) , the nucleus of the ovum of animals.

Germinal Ger`mi·nal" noun [ French See Germ .] The seventh month of the French republican calendar [ 1792 -- 1806]. It began March 21 and ended April 19. See VendÉmiaire .

Germinal Ger"mi·nal adjective (Biol.) Of or pertaining to the germ, or germ cells, as distinguished from the somatic cells.

Germinant Ger"mi·nant adjective [ Latin germinans , present participle ] Sprouting; sending forth germs or buds.

Germinate Ger"mi·nate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Germinated ; present participle & verbal noun Germinating .] [ Latin germinatus , past participle of germinare to sprout, from germen . See Germ .] To sprout; to bud; to shoot; to begin to vegetate, as a plant or its seed; to begin to develop, as a germ. Bacon.

Germinate Ger"mi·nate transitive verb To cause to sprout. Price (1610).

Germination Ger`mi·na"tion noun [ Latin germinatio : confer French germination .] The process of germinating; the beginning of vegetation or growth in a seed or plant; the first development of germs, either animal or vegetable. Germination apparatus , an apparatus for malting grain.

Germinative Ger"mi·na·tive adjective [ Confer French germinatif .] Pertaining to germination; having power to bud or develop. Germinative spot , Germinative vesicle . (Biol.) Same as Germinal spot , Germinal vesicle , under Germinal .

Germiparity Ger`mi·par"i·ty noun [ Germ + Latin parere to produce.] (Biol.) Reproduction by means of germs.

Germless Germ"less adjective Without germs.

Germogen Ger"mo·gen noun [ Germ + - gen .] (Biol.) (a) A polynuclear mass of protoplasm, not divided into separate cells, from which certain ova are developed. Balfour. (b) The primitive cell in certain embryonic forms. Balfour.

Germule Germ"ule noun [ Dim. from germ .] (Biol.) A small germ.

Gern Gern transitive verb [ See Grin .] To grin or yawn. [ Obsolete] "[ /He] gaped like a gulf when he did gern ." Spenser.

Gerner Ger"ner noun A garner. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Gerocomia Ger`o·co"mi·a noun [ New Latin ] See Gerocomy .

Gerocomical Ger`o·com"ic·al adjective Pertaining to gerocomy. Dr. John Smith.

Gerocomy Ge·roc"o·my noun [ French gérocomie , from Greek ... an old man + ... to take care of.] That part of medicine which treats of regimen for old people.

Gerontes Ge·ron"tes noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ..., ....] (Gr. Antiq.) Magistrates in Sparta, who with the ephori and kings, constituted the supreme civil authority.

Gerontocracy Ger`on·toc"ra·cy noun [ Greek ..., ..., an old man + ... to rule.] Government by old men. [ R.] Gladstone.

Geropigia Ger`o·pig"i·a noun [ Portuguese geropiga .] A mixture composed of unfermented grape juice, brandy, sugar, etc., for adulteration of wines. [ Written also jerupigia .]

Gerrymander Ger`ry·man"der transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gerrymandered ; present participle & verbal noun Gerrymandering .] To divide (a State) into districts for the choice of representatives, in an unnatural and unfair way, with a view to give a political party an advantage over its opponent. [ Political Cant, U. S.] » This was done in Massachusetts at a time when Elbridge Gerry was governor, and was attributed to his influence, hence the name; though it is now known that he was opposed to the measure. Bartlett.

Gerund Ger"und noun [ Latin gerundium , from gerere to bear, carry, perform. See Gest a deed, Jest .] (Lat. Gram.) 1. A kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle. 2. (AS. Gram.) A verbal noun ending in -e , preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end ; -- called also the dative infinitive ; as, "Ic hæbbe mete tô etanne " (I have meat to eat .) In Modern English the name has been applied to verbal or participal nouns in -ing denoting a transitive action; e. g. , by throwing a stone.

Gerundial Ge·run"di·al adjective Pertaining to, or resembling, a gerund; as, a gerundial use.

Gerundive Ge·run"dive adjective [ Latin gerundivus .] Pertaining to, or partaking of, the nature of the gerund; gerundial. -- noun (Lat. Gram.) The future passive participle; as, amandus , i. e. , to be loved.

Gerundively Ge·run"dive·ly adverb In the manner of a gerund; as, or in place of, a gerund.

Gery Ger"y adjective [ See Gerful .] Changeable; fickle. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Gesling Ges"ling noun A gosling. [ Prov. Eng.]

Gesse Gesse transitive verb & i. To guess. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Gesso Ges"so noun [ Italian , chalk, plaster.] 1. Plaster of Paris, or gypsum, esp. as prepared for use in painting, or in making bas-reliefs and the like; by extension, a plasterlike or pasty material spread upon a surface to fit it for painting or gilding, or a surface so prepared. 2. A work of art done in gesso. [ Obsolete]

Gesso duro Ges"so du"ro [ Italian , hard plaster.] A variety of gesso which when dried becomes hard and durable, often used in making bas-relief casts, which are colored and mounted in elaborate frames.

Gest Gest noun A guest. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Gest Gest noun [ Old French geste exploit. See Jest .] 1. Something done or achieved; a deed or an action; an adventure. [ Obsolete] Chaucer. 2. An action represented in sports, plays, or on the stage; show; ceremony. [ Obsolete] Mede. 3. A tale of achievements or adventures; a stock story. [ Obsolete] Chaucer. Spenser. 4. Gesture; bearing; deportment. [ Archaic]

Through his heroic grace and honorable gest .

Spenser.

Gest Gest noun [ Confer Gist a resting place.] 1. A stage in traveling; a stop for rest or lodging in a journey or progress; a rest. [ Obsolete] Kersey. 2. A roll recting the several stages arranged for a royal progress. Many of them are extant in the herald's office. [ Obsolete] Hanmer.

Gestant Ges"tant adjective [ Latin gestans , present participle of gestare .] Bearing within; laden; burdened; pregnant. [ R.] "Clouds gestant with heat." Mrs. Browning.

Gestation Ges·ta"tion noun [ Latin gestatio a bearing, carrying, from gestare to bear, carry, intens. from gerere , gestum , to bear: confer French gestation . See Gest deed, Jest .] 1. The act of wearing (clothes or ornaments). [ Obsolete] 2. The act of carrying young in the womb from conception to delivery; pregnancy. 3. Exercise in which one is borne or carried, as on horseback, or in a carriage, without the exertion of his own powers; passive exercise. Dunglison.

Gestatory Ges"ta·to·ry adjective [ Latin gestatorius that serves for carrying: confer French gestatoire .] 1. Pertaining to gestation or pregnancy. 2. Capable of being carried or worn. [ Obsolete or R.]

Geste Geste intransitive verb To tell stories or gests. [ Obsolete]

Gestic Ges"tic adjective [ See Gest a deed, Gesture .] 1. Pertaining to deeds or feats of arms; legendary.

And the gay grandsire, skilled in gestic lore.

Goldsmith. 2. Relating to bodily motion; consisting of gestures; -- said especially with reference to dancing.

Carried away by the enthusiasm of the gestic art.

Sir W. Scott.

Gesticulate Ges·tic"u·late intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gesticulated ; present participle & verbal noun Gesticulating .] [ Latin gesticulatus , past participle of gesticulari to gesticulate, from gesticulus a mimic gesture, gesticulation, dim. of gestus gesture, from gerere , gestum , to bear, carry, peform. See Gestic .] To make gestures or motions, as in speaking; to use postures. Sir T. Herbert.

Gesticulate Ges·tic"u·late transitive verb To represent by gesture; to act. [ R.] B. Jonson.

Gesticulation Ges·tic`u·la"tion noun [ Latin gesticulatio : confer French gesticulation .] 1. The act of gesticulating, or making gestures to express passion or enforce sentiments. 2. A gesture; a motion of the body or limbs in speaking, or in representing action or passion, and enforcing arguments and sentiments. Macaulay. 3. Antic tricks or motions. B. Jonson.

Gesticulator Ges·tic"u·la`tor noun [ Latin ] One who gesticulates.