Nearby Words

genii

[jee-nee-ahy] Origin

ge·ni·i

[jee-nee-ahy]
noun
a plural of genius.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

gen·ius

[jeen-yuhs]
noun, plural gen·ius·es for 2, 3, 8, gen·i·i [jee-nee-ahy] for 6, 7, 9.
1.
an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.: the genius of Mozart.
2.
a person having such capacity.
3.
a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an IQ above 140.
4.
natural ability or capacity; strong inclination: a special genius for leadership.
5.
distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.
EXPAND
6.
the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.
7.
either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.
8.
a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing: Rasputin, the evil genius of Russian politics.
9.
genie (defs. 1, 3).
COLLAPSE

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: tutelary deity or genius of a person; compare genus

genius, genus.


4. gift, talent, aptitude, faculty.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
genii (ˈdʒiːnɪˌaɪ)
 
n
genius the plural of genius

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

genius
late 14c., from L. genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE base *gen- "produce." Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" first recorded 1640s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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