Chapter 659

&hand; The silver gerah is supposed to have been worth about three cents; the gold about fifty-four cents; the weight equivalent to about thirteen grains.

Geraniaceous <Xpage=622>

Ge*ra`ni*a"ceous (?) , a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order of pants ( Geraniace\'91 ) which includes the genera Geranium, Pelargonium, and many others.

Geraniine, Geranine <Xpage=622>

Ge*ra"ni*ine (?) , Ger"a*nine (?) , n. [See Geranium .]

1. (Med.) A valuable astringet obtained from the root of the Geranium maculatum or crane's-bill.

2. (Chem.) A liquid terpene, obtained from the crane's-bill ( Geranium maculatum ), and having a peculiar mulberry odor. [Written also geranium .]

Geranium <Xpage=622>

Ge*ra"ni*um (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, from <?/ crane: cf. F. g\'82ranium . See Crane , n. ]

1. (Bot.) A genus of plants having a beaklike tours or receptacle, around which the seed capsules are arranged, and membranous projections, or stipules, at the joints. Most of the species have showy flowers and a pungent odor. Called sometimes crane's-bill .

2. (Floriculture) A cultivated pelargonium.

&hand; Many plants referred to the genus Geranium by the earlier botanists are now separated from it under the name of Pelargonium , which includes all the commonly cultivated "geraniums", mostly natives of South Africa.

Gerant <Xpage=622>

Ge"rant (?) , n. [F. g\'82rant .] The manager or acting partner of a company, joint-stock association, etc.

Gerbe <Xpage=622>

Gerbe (?) , n. [F., prop. a sheaf.] (Pyrotechny) A kind of ornamental firework.

Farrow.

Gerbil, Gerbille <Xpage=622>

Ger"bil (?) , Ger`bille" (?) , n. [F. gerbille . Cf. Jerboa .] (Zo\'94l.) One of several species of small, jumping, murine rodents, of the genus Gerbillus . In their leaping powers they resemble the jerboa. They inhabit Africa, India, and Southern Europe.

Gerboa <Xpage=622>

Ger*bo"a (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The jerboa.

Gere <Xpage=622>

Gere (?) , n. Gear. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Gerent <Xpage=622>

Ge"rent (?) , a. [L. gerens , p. pr. of gerere to bear, manage.] Bearing; carrying. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Gerfalcon <Xpage=622>

Ger"fal`con (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Gyrfalcon .

Gerful <Xpage=622>

Ger"ful (?) , a. [Cf. OF. girer to twirl, E. gyrate .] Changeable; capricious. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Gerland, Gerlond <Xpage=622>

Ger"land (?) , Ger"lond , n. A garland. [Obs.]

Gerlind <Xpage=622>

Ger"lind (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A salmon returning from the sea the second time. [Prov. Eng.]

Germ <Xpage=622>

Germ (?) , n. [F. germe , fr. L. germen , germinis , sprout, but, germ. Cf. Germen , Germane .] 1. (Biol.) That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like ; the earliest form under which an organism appears.

In the entire process in which a new being originates . . . two distinct classes of action participate; namely, the act of generation by which the germ is produced; and the act of development, by which that germ is evolved into the complete organism. Carpenter.

2. That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty .

Disease germ (Biol.) , a name applied to certain tiny bacterial organisms or their spores, such as Anthrax bacillus and the Micrococcus of fowl cholera, which have been demonstrated to be the cause of certain diseases. See Germ theory (bellow). -- Germ cell (Biol.) , the germ, egg, spore, or cell from which the plant or animal arises. At one time a part of the body of the parent, it finally becomes detached,and by a process of multiplication and growth gives rise to a mass of cells, which ultimately form a new individual like the parent. See Ovum . -- Germ gland . (Anat.) See Gonad . -- Germ stock (Zo\'94l.) , a special process on which buds are developed in certain animals. See Doliolum . -- Germ theory (Biol.) , the theory that living organisms can be produced only by the evolution or development of living germs or seeds. See Biogenesis , and Abiogenesis . As applied to the origin of disease, the theory claims that the zymotic diseases are due to the rapid development and multiplication of various bacteria, the germs or spores of which are either contained in the organism itself, or transferred through the air or water. See Fermentation theory .

Germ <Xpage=622>

Germ (?) , v. i. To germinate. [R.]

J. Morley.

Germain <Xpage=622>

Ger*main" (?) , a. [Obs.] See Germane .

German <Xpage=622>

Ger"man (?) , a. [OE. german , germain , F. germain , fr. L. germanus full, own (said of brothers and sisters who have the same parents); akin to germen germ. Cf. Germ , Germane .] Nearly related; closely akin.

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

Brother german . See Brother german . -- Cousins german . See the Note under Cousin .

German <Xpage=622>

Ger"man , n. ; pl . Germans (#) [L. Germanus , prob. of Celtis origin.] 1. A native or one of the people of Germany.

2. The German language.

3. (a) A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures. (b) A social party at which the german is danced.

High German , the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, -- comprising Old High German , used from the 8th to the 11th century; Middle H. G ., from the 12th to the 15th century; and Modern or New H. G ., the language of Luther's Bible version and of modern German literature. The dialects of Central Germany, the basis of the modern literary language, are often called Middle German , and the Southern German dialects Upper German ; but High German is also used to cover both groups. -- Low German , the language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, -- including Friesic ; Anglo-Saxon or Saxon ; Old Saxon ; Dutch or Low Dutch , with its dialect, Flemish ; and Plattdeutsch (called also Low German ), spoken in many dialects.

German <Xpage=622>

Ger"man , a. [L. Germanus . See German , n. ] Of or pertaining to Germany.

German Baptists . See Dunker . -- German bit , a wood-boring tool, having a long elliptical pod and a scew point. -- German carp (Zo\'94l.) , the crucian carp. -- German millet (Bot.) , a kind of millet ( Setaria Italica , var.), whose seed is sometimes used for food. -- German paste , a prepared food for caged birds. -- German process (Metal.) , the process of reducing copper ore in a blast furnace, after roasting, if necessary. Raymond . -- German sarsaparilla , a substitute for sarsaparilla extract. -- German sausage , a polony, or gut stuffed with meat partly cooked. -- German silver (Chem.) , a silver-white alloy, hard and tough, but malleable and ductile, and quite permanent in the air. It contains nickel, copper, and zinc in varying proportions, and was originally made from old copper slag at Henneberg. A small amount of iron is sometimes added to make it whiter and harder. It is essentially identical with the Chinese alloy packfong . It was formerly much used for tableware, knife handles, frames, cases, bearings of machinery, etc., but is now largely superseded by other white alloys. -- German steel (Metal.) , a metal made from bog iron ore in a forge, with charcoal for fuel. -- German text (Typog.) , a character resembling modern German type, used in English printing for ornamental headings, etc., as in the words,

&hand; This line is German Text.

-- German tinder . See Amadou .

Germander <Xpage=622>

Ger*man"der (?) , n. [OE. germaunder , F. germandr\'82e , It. calamandrea , L. chamaedrys , fr. Gr.<?/; <?/ on the earth or ground + <?/ tree. See Humble , and Tree .] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Teucrium (esp. Teucrium Cham\'91drys or wall germander), mintlike herbs and low shrubs.

American germander , Teucrium Canadense . -- Germander chickweed , Veronica agrestis . -- Water germander , Teucrium Scordium . -- Wood germander , Teucrium Scorodonia .

Germane <Xpage=622>

Ger*mane" (?) , a. [See German akin, nearly related.] Literally, near akin; hence, closely allied; appropriate or fitting; relevant.

The phrase would be more germane to the matter. Shak.

[An amendment] must be germane . Barclay (Digest).

Germanic <Xpage=622>

Ger*man"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, germanium.

Germanic <Xpage=622>

Ger*man"ic , a. [L. Germanicus : cf. F. germanique . See German , n. ] 1. Of or pertaining to Germany; as, the Germanic confederacy .

2. Teutonic. [A loose sense]

Germanism <Xpage=622>

Ger"man*ism (?) , n. [Cf. F. germanisme .] 1. An idiom of the German language.

2. A characteristic of the Germans; a characteristic German mode, doctrine, etc.; rationalism.

J. W. Alexander.

Germanium <Xpage=622>

Ger*ma"ni*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. Germania Germany.] (Chem.) 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 <Xpage=622>

Ger`man*i*za"tion (?) , n. The act of Germanizing.

M. Arnold.

Germanize <Xpage=622>

Ger"man*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Germanized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Germanizing (?) .] To make German, or like what is distinctively German; as, to Germanize a province, a language, a society .

Germanize <Xpage=622>

Ger"man*ize , v. i. To reason or write after the manner of the Germans.

Germarium <Xpage=622>

Ger*ma"ri*um (?) , n. [NL. See Germ .] (Zo\'94l.) An organ in which the ova are developed in certain Turbellaria.

<page="623"> Page 623

Germen <Xpage=623>

Ger"men (?) , n. ; pl. E. Germens (#) , L. Germina (#) . [L.] See Germ .

Germicidal <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*ci`dal (?) , a. Germicide.

Germicide <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*cide (?) , a. [ Germ +L. 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. -- n. A germicide agent.

Germinal <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*nal (?) , a. [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 <Xpage=623>

Ger`mi*nal" (?) , n. [F. See Germ .] The seventh month of the French republican calendar [1792 -- 1806]. It began March 21 and ended April 19. See Vend\'90miaire .

Germinant <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*nant (?) , a. [L. germinans , p. pr. ] Sprouting; sending forth germs or buds.

Germinate <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*nate (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Germinated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Germinating .] [L. germinatus , p. p. of germinare to sprout, fr. 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 <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*nate , v. t. To cause to sprout.

Price (1610).

Germination <Xpage=623>

Ger`mi*na"tion (?) , n. [L. germinatio : cf. F. 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 <Xpage=623>

Ger"mi*na*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. germinatif .] Pertaining to germination; having power to bud or develop.

Germinative spot , Germinative vesicle . (Biol.) Same as Germinal spot , Germinal vesicle , under Germinal .

Germiparity <Xpage=623>

Ger`mi*par"i*ty (?) , n. [ Germ + L. parere to produce.] (Biol.) Reproduction by means of germs.

Germless <Xpage=623>

Germ"less , a. Without germs.

Germogen <Xpage=623>

Ger"mo*gen (?) , n. [ 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 .

Germ plasm <Xpage=623>

Germ" plasm` (?) , (Biol.) See Plasmogen , and Idioplasm .

Germule <Xpage=623>

Germ"ule (?) , n. [Dim. fr. germ .] (Biol.) A small germ.

Gern <Xpage=623>

Gern (?) , v. t. [See Grin .] To grin or yawn. [Obs.] "[/He] gaped like a gulf when he did gern ."

Spenser.

Gerner <Xpage=623>

Ger"ner (?) , n. A garner. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Gerocomia <Xpage=623>

Ger`o*co"mi*a (?) , n. [NL.] See Gerocomy .

Gerocomical <Xpage=623>

Ger`o*com"ic*al (?) , a. Pertaining to gerocomy.

Dr. John Smith.

Gerocomy <Xpage=623>

Ge*roc"o*my (?) , n. [F. g\'82rocomie , fr. Gr. <?/ an old man + <?/ to take care of.] That part of medicine which treats of regimen for old people.

Gerontes <Xpage=623>

Ge*ron"tes (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/.] (Gr. Antiq.) Magistrates in Sparta, who with the ephori and kings, constituted the supreme civil authority.

Gerontocracy <Xpage=623>

Ger`on*toc"ra*cy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, an old man + <?/ to rule.] Government by old men. [R.]

Gladstone.

Geropigia <Xpage=623>

Ger`o*pig"i*a (?) , n. [Pg. geropiga .] A mixture composed of unfermented grape juice, brandy, sugar, etc., for adulteration of wines. [Written also jerupigia .]

-gerous <Xpage=623>

-ger*ous (?) . [L. -ger , fr. gerere to bear, carry. See Jest .] A suffix signifying bearing , producing ; as, calci gerous ; denti gerous .

Gerrymander <Xpage=623>

Ger`ry*man"der (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gerrymandered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. 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.]

&hand; 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 <Xpage=623>

Ger"und (?) , n. [L. gerundium , fr. 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 h\'91bbe mete t\'93 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 <Xpage=623>

Ge*run"di*al (?) , a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a gerund; as, a gerundial use .

Gerundive <Xpage=623>

Ge*run"dive (?) , a. [L. gerundivus .] Pertaining to, or partaking of, the nature of the gerund; gerundial. -- n. (Lat. Gram.) The future passive participle; as, amandus , i. e. , to be loved .

Gerundively <Xpage=623>

Ge*run"dive*ly , adv. In the manner of a gerund; as, or in place of, a gerund .

Gery <Xpage=623>

Ger"y (?) , a. [See Gerful .] Changeable; fickle. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Gesling <Xpage=623>

Ges"ling (?) , n. A gosling. [Prov. Eng.]

Gesse <Xpage=623>

Gesse (?) , v. t. & i. To guess. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Gest <Xpage=623>

Gest (?) , n. A guest. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Gest <Xpage=623>

Gest (?) , n. [OF. geste exploit. See Jest .]

1. Something done or achieved; a deed or an action; an adventure. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. An action represented in sports, plays, or on the stage; show; ceremony. [Obs.]

Mede.

3. A tale of achievements or adventures; a stock story. [Obs.]

Chaucer. Spenser.

4. Gesture; bearing; deportment. [Archaic]

Through his heroic grace and honorable gest . Spenser.

Gest <Xpage=623>

Gest (?) , n. [Cf. Gist a resting place.]

1. A stage in traveling; a stop for rest or lodging in a journey or progress; a rest. [Obs.]

Kersey.

2. A roll recting the several stages arranged for a royal progress. Many of them are extant in the herald's office. [Obs.]

Hanmer.

Gestant <Xpage=623>

Ges"tant (?) , a. [L. gestans , p. pr. of gestare .] Bearing within; laden; burdened; pregnant. [R.] "Clouds gestant with heat."

Mrs. Browning.

Gestation <Xpage=623>