germen

[ jur-muhn ]

noun

, Archaic.

, plural ger·mens, ger·mi·na [jur, -m, uh, -n, uh].

1. a germ.

germen

/ ˈdʒɜːmən /

noun

1. rare.
   biology the mass of undifferentiated cells that gives rise to the germ cells

Word History and Origins

Origin of germen¹

From Latin, dating back to 1595–1605; germ

Word History and Origins

Origin of germen¹

C17: from Latin; see germ

Example Sentences

Mr. Berkeley found no difficulty, and had the stem impregnated as well as the germen.

From Project Gutenberg

So in Latin, canmen from cano was pronounced, and then written carmen; genmen from the obsolete γενω passed into germen.

From Project Gutenberg

The globular part contains the pistil, which consists merely of a germen and stigma, together with the surrounding stamens.

From Project Gutenberg

Germen oblong, striated, curved slightly outwards, but at length becoming erect and rugged.

From Project Gutenberg

In P. farinosa the germen is broadly obovate and the stigma capitate; here the germen is globose and the stigma has five points.

From Project Gutenberg