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genial1

[jeen-yuh l, jee-nee-uh l]
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adjective
  1. warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial: a genial disposition; a genial host.
  2. favorable for life, growth, or comfort; pleasantly warm; comfortably mild: the genial climate of Hawaii.
  3. characterized by genius.
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Origin of genial1

1560–70; < Latin geniālis festive, jovial, pleasant, equivalent to geni(us) tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment + -ālis -al1
Related formsgen·ial·ly, adverbge·ni·al·i·ty [jee-nee-al-i-tee] /ˌdʒi niˈæl ɪ ti/, gen·ial·ness, nouno·ver·ge·ni·al·i·ty, noun

Synonyms

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1. friendly, hearty, pleasant, agreeable.

genial2

[juh-nahy-uh l]
adjective Anatomy, Zoology.
  1. of or relating to the chin.
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Origin of genial2

1825–35; < Greek génei(on) chin, derivative of gén(ys) jaw (compare Latin gena) + -al1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for genial

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Mr. Roberts threw back his head and laughed,—a genial, hearty laugh.

  • "Come in, Margaret, and put down your basket," said the colonel in a genial tone.

    The Rock of Chickamauga

    Joseph A. Altsheler

  • Reaching it, he paused, offering the hand of genial fellowship.

    The Black Bag

    Louis Joseph Vance

  • He invariably encouraged humour, this genial philanthropist.

    The Slave Of The Lamp

    Henry Seton Merriman

  • Before long it was roaring, and diffusing a genial warmth on all sides.

    The Field of Ice

    Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for genial

genial1

adjective
  1. cheerful, easy-going, and warm in manner or behaviour
  2. pleasantly warm, so as to give life, growth, or healththe genial sunshine
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Derived Formsgeniality (ˌdʒiːnɪˈælɪtɪ) or genialness, noungenially, adverb

Word Origin

C16: from Latin geniālis relating to birth or marriage, from genius tutelary deity; see genius

genial2

adjective
  1. anatomy of or relating to the chin
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Word Origin

C19: from Greek geneion, from genus jaw
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for genial

adj.

1560s, "pertaining to marriage," from Latin genialis "pleasant, festive," literally "pertaining to marriage rites," from genius "guardian spirit" (see genius). Originally used in the Latin literal sense; meaning "cheerful, friendly" first recorded 1746. Related: Genially.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
genial in Medicine

genial

(jĭ-nī′əl)
adj.
  1. Of or relating to the chin.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.