Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - german

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin ~us, from Latin  Date: 14th century  1. a member of any of the ~ic peoples inhabiting western Europe in Roman times  2.  a. a native or inhabitant of ~y  b. a person of ~ descent  c. one whose native language is ~ and who is a native of a country other than ~y  3.  a. the ~ic language spoken mainly in ~y, Austria, and parts of Switzerland  b. the literary and official language of ~y  4. often not capitalized  a. a dance consisting of intricate figures that are improvised and intermingled with waltzes  b. chiefly Midland a dancing party; specifically one at which the german is danced  II. adjective  Date: 15th century of, relating to, or characteristic of ~y, the ~s, or ~ GERMAN  I. adjective  Etymology: Middle English germain, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~us having the same parents, from germen  Date: 14th century having the same parents or the same grandparents on either the maternal or paternal side — usually used after the noun which it modifies and joined to it by a hyphen brother-~ cousin-~  II. noun  Date: 15th century obsolete a near relative