Germane (adj.): Closely related, connected, or relevant to the current topic or situation.
Courtesy of Oxford Dictionary Online
This could easily just be me, but I was largely unaware of this word until about two weeks ago when I read it somewhere and realized I'd never really encountered it before. This is a good example of how even relatively well-read people have plenty of opportunities to continue to expand their vocabulary.
As a fun aside, this definition arose from its use in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act V, scene ii: "The phrase would be more germane to the matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides; I would it might be hangers till then."
Shakespeare's language is completely unique. It would be interesting to learn what old English words, as well as words he invented, have survived until today because of Shakespeare.
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