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

But humanity need not be limited to mortal beings; operatic music is powerful enough to express soul-shaking despair and ardent ecstasy among the Germanic gods of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle as well.

From Salon

He’s still purposely mocking the Germanic pronunciation of retired Chancellor Angela Merkel’s name; he did so during an anti-trade tirade about “stupid” Americans buying so many German BMWs, Volkswagens and Mercedes-Benzes — most of which would have been made in South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

Similarly, during the Middle Ages, Celts and Germanic tribespeople wore baggy undershorts called braies.

From National Geographic

So they replaced it with a Germanic “sun wheel” or a Sig rune.

From Salon

A great plague ravaged western Europe, as he embarked on a long and bloody war against the Germanic tribes along the Danube frontier.

From National Geographic