germanic

¹

[ jer-man-ik, -mey-nik ]

adjective

, Chemistry.

1. of or containing germanium, especially in the tetravalent state.

Germanic

²

[ jer-man-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the Teutons or their languages.
2. German.
3. of, relating to, or noting the Germanic branch of languages.

noun

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages including German, Dutch, English, the Scandinavian languages, Afrikaans, Flemish, Frisian, and the extinct Gothic language. : Gmc, Gmc.
2. Proto-Germanic ( def 1 ).
3. an ancient Indo-European language, the immediate linguistic ancestor of the Germanic languages. : Gmc, Gmc.

germanic

¹

/ dʒɜːˈmænɪk /

adjective

1. of or containing germanium in the tetravalent state

Germanic

²

/ dʒɜːˈmænɪk /

noun

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages that includes English, Dutch, German, the Scandinavian languages, and Gothic Gmc See East Germanic West Germanic North Germanic
2. the unrecorded language from which all of these languages developed; Proto-Germanic

adjective

1. of, denoting, or relating to this group of languages
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the German language, or any people that speaks a Germanic language

Other Words From

• Ger·man·i·cal·ly adverb
• an·ti-Ger·man·ic adjective
• non-Ger·man·ic adjective
• pre-Ger·man·ic adjective noun
• pro-Ger·man·ic adjective
• pseu·do-Ger·man·ic adjective
• trans-Ger·man·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of germanic¹

First recorded in 1885–90; german(ium) + -ic

Origin of germanic²

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin Germānicus “pertaining to Germany or the Germans”; German, -ic

Example Sentences

The Codex Regius in itself is considered one of the most important extant sources for both Norse mythology and Germanic legends.

From Realm of History

What historians can theorize is that the Goths as a people were mainly Germanic in origin, who in turn were influenced by the nomadic neighbors of the vast Eurasian steppe.

From Realm of History

In the Germanic world, we have systems, which means that nothing stands alone.

From Freakonomics

Yes, as a figure, “Santa Claus” has his roots in early Christian Europe, Dutch folklore, and Germanic paganism.

From The Daily Beast

Italian unification in 1861 married the Germanic north with the Latin south.

From The Daily Beast

“For me to learn any Romance or Germanic dialect, just put me in the environment, and it would come alive,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

I know the play started in England and is now in America, but there is a slightly Germanic quality to it.

From The Daily Beast

Matzo ball soup is definitely American, but also Eastern European and Germanic and French.

From The Daily Beast

The great mass of the words are traceable to Latin etyma, as in all Romance dialects a large portion of Germanic words are found.

From Project Gutenberg

Another interesting subject was brought before the house by Mr. Lytton Bulwer, relating to the Germanic states.

From Project Gutenberg

His greatness and his simplicity, his humanity and his religious faith, are typical of the Germanic race.

From Project Gutenberg

In the case of English, the original Germanic tongue has become almost unrecognizable under the heavy burden of foreign words.

From Project Gutenberg

The arguments for a Germanic origin are attractive, but hardly convincing, and anything but conclusive.

From Project Gutenberg