germen (noun 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).
* 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.
* Transf.: cara maris,i. e. precious stones,Claud. Ep. ad Ser. 14: frontis,i. e. a horn,id. Rapt. Pros. 1, 129.
* 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.

s. TLL