Meaning: sprout
Root word: Latin germen, germinis
Roots with similar meanings:
Roots with opposite meanings:
Roots that could be confused:
- gen- meaning “origin, birth, race, kind”
- gam- meaning “marriage, wedding”
Notes: The etymology for the word “Germany” is unclear but does not appear to be related to the root “germ-“.
Derived English Words
Commonly encountered words are in bold.
Germ: A microorganism, especially one that can cause disease; can also refer to the early stage of development in an organism, such as a seed or embryo.
Germicide: A substance that kills germs, particularly pathogenic microorganisms, used to disinfect and sanitize surfaces or living tissues.
Germane: Relevant or appropriate to the subject at hand; closely related or pertinent.
Nongermane: Not relevant or appropriate to the subject at hand; unrelated or extraneous.
Germinal: Relating to the earliest stage of development; often used in contexts like germinal cells, which are the precursors to gametes.
Germinate: To begin to grow or develop, particularly in reference to seeds sprouting or cells starting to divide.
Germination: The process by which a seed develops into a new plant, involving growth and the emergence of shoots and roots.
Regerminate: To cause to germinate again; can refer to seeds that are encouraged to sprout after a previous germination attempt.
Other Uses
Links
List of Greek and Latin roots in English – Wikipedia
Other Roots Used in These Words
| Root | Meaning |
| cid- | kill |
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