germinal
|ger-mi-nal|
🇺🇸
/ˈdʒɝː.mɪ.nəl/
🇬🇧
/ˈdʒɜː.mɪ.nəl/
seed; beginning
Etymology
'germinal' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'germinālis', where 'germen' meant 'sprout' or 'bud'.
'germinal' changed from the Latin adjective 'germinālis' (from 'germen') into use in later Medieval/Modern European languages (notably French 'germinal') and was adopted into English with the form 'germinal'.
Initially it meant 'of or relating to a seed or bud,' but over time it evolved to include the broader sense 'of an initial or formative stage' used in modern English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rare use: an originating element or an embryonic stage/structure.
The sketch contained a germinal that the team later developed into a full proposal.
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Adjective 1
of or relating to a germ, bud, or embryo; embryonic.
The biologist examined the germinal cells under the microscope.
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Adjective 2
occurring at an initial or formative stage; serving as a seed for later development.
They proposed several germinal ideas that later shaped the project's direction.
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Last updated: 2025/12/02 06:54