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genuine

 - 4 dictionary results

gen⋅u⋅ine

  [jen-yoo-in]
–adjective
1. possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real: genuine sympathy; a genuine antique.
2. properly so called: a genuine case of smallpox.
3. free from pretense, affectation, or hypocrisy; sincere: a genuine person.
4. descended from the original stock; pure in breed: a genuine Celtic people.
Use genuine in a Sentence
Origin:
1590–1600; < L genuīnus innate, natural = genu-, as in ingenuus native (see ingenuous ) + -īnus -ine 1

Related forms:
gen⋅u⋅ine⋅ly, adverb
gen⋅u⋅ine⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. See authentic. 3. true, unaffected, open, honest, forthright.

Pronunciation note:
Two pronunciations of genuine occur, with a sharp social contrast between them. The usual educated pronunciation is [jen-yoo-in] , with the final syllable unstressed. Among some less educated speakers, especially older ones, genuine is commonly pronounced as [jen-yoo-ahyn], with a secondary stress on the final syllable, which has the vowel of sign. The latter pronunciation is sometimes used deliberately by educated speakers, as for emphasis or humorous effect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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gen·u·ine   (jěn'yōō-ĭn)   
adj.  

  1. Actually possessing the alleged or apparent attribute or character: genuine leather.

  2. Not spurious or counterfeit; authentic. See Synonyms at authentic.

    1. Honestly felt or experienced: genuine devotion.

    2. Actual; real: a genuine dilemma.

  4. Free from hypocrisy or dishonesty; sincere.

  5. Being of pure or original stock: a genuine Hawaiian.


[Latin genuīnus, natural, possibly from alteration of ingenuus, native, freeborn; see ingenuous.]
gen'u·ine·ly adv., gen'u·ine·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

genuine 
1596, from L. genuinus "native, natural," from root of gignere "beget" (see genus), perhaps infl. in form by contrasting adulterinus "spurious." Alternative etymology is from L. genu "knee," from an ancient custom of a father acknowledging paternity of a newborn by placing it on his knee.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: gen·u·ine
Function: adjective
: actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character; specifically : free of forgery or counterfeiting —see also genuine issue at ISSUE —gen·u·ine·ly adverb —gen·u·ine·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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