german1 (jerman)

and n. [The same as germane (q. v.), formerly germain, We byeth alle children of holy cherche, brother germayn of uader and of moder. Ayenbite of Inwyt (E. E. T. S.), p. 146. Chaucer, Tale of Melibeus. Ye have no bretheren ne cosins germayns . IMG:content-2244.png:[blocks in formation] 2499 try-stitch and a tent-stitch are worked, forming a diagonal line. - German text, a form of black-letter with profusely flourished and very large capital letters. Specimen of German Gext. German tinder. Same as amadou . - German wool. Same as Berlin wool (which see, under wool ). II. n. 1. A member of the German race, or a native or an inhabitant of Germany. See I. -2. The language of Germany or of the German people, a sub-branch or division of the Teutonic or Germanic branch of Indo-Euro pean or Aryan language. Its two principal divisions are the Low German, of the northern or lower part of the country, and the High German, of the southern or higher part. See High German, Low German, below. 3. Especially, the literary language of Germany. It is one of the High-German dialects, the former court and official dialect of Saxony (though not entirely free from elements of other dialects), and was brought into general learned and literary use, early in the sixteenth century, by Luther's writings, especially by his translation of the Bible. High German, a collective name for the dialects of central and southern Germany, as distinguished from the Low German of the north. The dialects it in cludes are many and of various groups, as Alemannic, Frankish, Austrian, etc. Its history divided by isting literary documents into three periods: Old High German, from the eighth to the twelfth century (the lead ing dialect Frankish, the literature chiefly Christian i zing); Middle High German, from the twelfth to the sixteenth century (one of the leading dialects Swabian, the literature chiefly epic, as the Nibelungenlied and Helden, sagen, and lyric, as the writings of the Minnesingers); and the New High German, or the Modern German, or German from the sixteenth century down. See above. - Low Ger ex if we could carry cannon by our sides. Cousin german. See cousin1. Shak., Hamlet, v. 2. II.t n. One sprung from the same stock; specifically, a full brother, sister, or cousin. Goe now, proud Miscreant, Thyselfe thy me age do to german deare. Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 13. IMG:content-2245.jpg:[blocks in formation]