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Antonyms for germ

Grammar : Noun
Spell : jurm
Phonetic Transcription : dÊ’Éœrm

Definition of germ

Origin :
  • mid-15c., "bud, sprout;" 1640s, "rudiment of a new organism in an existing one," from Middle French germe "germ (of egg); bud, seed, fruit; offering," from Latin germen (genitive germinis) "sprout, bud," perhaps from PIE root *gen- "to beget, bear" (see genus). The older sense is preserved in wheat germ and germ of an idea; sense of "seed of a disease" first recorded 1803; that of "harmful microorganism" dates from 1871. Germ warfare recorded from 1920.
  • noun microscopic organism, often causing illness
  • noun beginning
Example sentences :
  • Yet she did not know that she was crushing out the germ which might have grown in his heart.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • In that instant was planted the second germ of unhappiness in Hetty's bosom.
  • Extract from : « Hetty's Strange History » by Anonymous
  • There, in the family of Adam, is the germ of the rule in the tribe,--the state.
  • Extract from : « Slavery Ordained of God » by Rev. Fred A. Ross, D.D.
  • It implies a pre-existing something, inwrapped as a germ in its environment.
  • Extract from : « Life: Its True Genesis » by R. W. Wright
  • This germ is always in the blood of members of the same family.
  • Extract from : « The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851 » by Various
  • He, accordingly, constructed a very ingenious apparatus to enable him to accomplish this trapping of this "germ dust" in the air.
  • Extract from : « The Method By Which The Causes Of The Present And Past Conditions Of Organic Nature Are To Be Discovered.--The Origination Of Living Beings » by Thomas H. Huxley
  • They are partly facetious, but also contain a germ of truth.
  • Extract from : « The Republic » by Plato
  • This was the germ of the present Congress of the United States.
  • Extract from : « King Philip » by John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott
  • For nature is of one kindred; and every soul has a seed or germ which may be developed into all knowledge.
  • Extract from : « Meno » by Plato
  • Here is the germ of benefit societies and clubs and insurances and hospitals.
  • Extract from : « Cyropaedia » by Xenophon

Synonyms for germ

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019