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germinal

[jur-muh-nl]

Origin

adjective

being in the earliest stage of development: germinal ideas.

of or pertaining to a germ or germs.

of the nature of a germ or germ cell.

Origin:
1800–10; (< F) < Latin germin- (stem of germen sprout, bud; see germ) + -al¹

Related forms

ger·mi·nal·ly, adverb

non·ger·mi·nal, adjective

sub·ger·mi·nal, adjective

sub·ger·mi·nal·ly, adverb

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Germinal is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Dictionary.com Unabridged

noun

(in the French Revolutionary calendar) the seventh month of the year, extending from March 21 to April 19.

(italics) a novel (1884) by Émile Zola.

Origin:
< French; see germinal

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

germinal (ˈdʒɜːmɪn^əl)

—*adj*
1.	of, relating to, or like germs or a germ cell
2.	of, or in the earliest stage of development; embryonic

[C19: from New Latin germinālis, from Latin germen bud; see germ]

'germinally

—*adv*

Germinal (ʒɛrminal)

—n
	the month of buds: the seventh month of the French revolutionary calendar, from March 22 to April 20

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

germinal

1808, from L. germen (gen. germinis) "sprout, bud;" see germ.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

germinal ger·mi·nal (jûr'mə-nəl)
adj.