Legal Definitions - germanus

Definition: Germanus (pronounced jər-may-nəs) is a Latin term used in Roman law. It has two meanings:

1. Adjective: Refers to siblings who have the same father and mother. For example, if John and Mary have a son and a daughter, then the son and daughter are germanus siblings.
2. Noun: Refers to a whole brother, which means a child who has both the same father and mother as another child. For example, if John and Mary have two sons, then the sons are germanus brothers.

These terms are used in legal contexts to distinguish between siblings who have different parents or only share one parent.

Example: John and Mary have a son named Tom and a daughter named Sarah. Tom and Sarah are germanus siblings because they have the same father and mother.

Example: John and Mary have two sons named Tom and Jack. Tom and Jack are germanus brothers because they have the same father and mother.

These examples illustrate how the term germanus is used to describe siblings who share both parents. It is important to note that the term only applies to siblings who have the same father and mother, not just one parent in common.