germen, ĭnis, n. [Sanscr. root grabh-, grah-, to conceive; garbh-as, child; whence, βρέφος (for γρέφος), germanus, perh. gremium], a sprig, offshoot, sprout, bud (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
I Lit.: huc aliena ex arbore germen Includunt, Verg. G. 2, 76: serotino germine malus, tardissimo suber, Plin. 16, 25, 41, § 98; Vulg. Deut. 11, 17 et saep.—In plur.: inque novos soles audent se germina tuto Credere, Verg. G. 2, 332; Plin. 18, 10, 21, § 94: auctumni maturet germina Virgo, fruits , Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 465: impleratque uterum generoso germine, foetus , embryo , Ov. M. 9, 280; so, celsa Tonantis, i. e. daughter , Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 76: servile, Just. 18, 3 fin. ; and of puppies , whelps , Nemes. Cyneg. 155.—
B Transf.: cara maris, i. e. precious stones , Claud. Ep. ad Ser. 14: frontis, i. e. a horn , id. Rapt. Pros. 1, 129.—
II Trop., a germ : rabies unde illaec germina surgunt, Lucr. 4, 1083: germen ab aethere trahere, origin , Prud. Cath. 10, 32: germine nobilis Eulalia, id. στεφ. 3, 1.