germinal

¹

[ jur-muh-nl ]

adjective

1. being in the earliest stage of development:

   germinal ideas.

2. of or relating to a germ or germs.
3. of the nature of a germ or germ cell.

Germinal

²

[ jur-muh-nl; French zher-mee-nal ]

noun

1. (in the French Revolutionary calendar) the seventh month of the year, extending from March 21 to April 19.
2. (italics) a novel (1884) by Émile Zola.

germinal

¹

/ ˈdʒɜːmɪnəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like germs or a germ cell
2. of, or in the earliest stage of development; embryonic

Germinal

²

/ ʒɛrminal /

noun

1. the month of buds: the seventh month of the French revolutionary calendar, from March 22 to April 20

Derived Forms

• ˈgerminally, adverb

Other Words From

• germi·nal·ly adverb
• non·germi·nal adjective
• sub·germi·nal adjective
• sub·germi·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of germinal¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from French or directly from Latin germin- (stem of germen “sprout, bud”; germ ) + -al ¹

Origin of germinal²

From French; germinal

Word History and Origins

Origin of germinal¹

C19: from New Latin germinālis, from Latin germen bud; see germ

Example Sentences

My worry is that psychedelics may intensify attitudes that were already present in some germinal form.

From Time

But the most fascinating sections are the germinal passages upon which Agee would build and elaborate in the final version.

From The Daily Beast

Germinal by Émile Zola My favorite reportorial 19th-century novel.

From The Daily Beast

From the germinal impression of a description, all the details grow; to this primary impression they all contribute.

From Project Gutenberg

In a one-celled individual, there is no distinction between germinal and bodily functions.

From Project Gutenberg

In the youngest egg which I had, the germinal disc was already divided into four segments by two furrows at right angles.

From Project Gutenberg

The furrows in this case reached quite to the edge of the germinal disc.

From Project Gutenberg

Where it cuts the surface it forms the zone of lighter colour immediately surrounding the germinal disc.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• burgeoning
• fledgling
• growing
• incipient
• nascent
• promising