Germ

jėrm, n. a rudimentary form of a living thing, whether a plant or animal: ( bot. ) the seed-bud of a plant: a shoot: that from which anything springs, the origin: a first principle.— v.i. to put forth buds, sprout.— n. Germ′icide , that which destroys germs. [Fr. ger me —L. germen , a bud.]