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genial

1
[ jeen-yuhl, jee-nee-uhl ]
/ ˈdʒin yəl, ˈdʒi ni əl /
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adjective

warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial: a genial disposition; a genial host.
favorable for life, growth, or comfort; pleasantly warm; comfortably mild: the genial climate of Hawaii.
characterized by genius.

RELATED WORDS

pleasant, amiable, easygoing, upbeat, sunny, jolly, cheerful, gentle, jovial, chipper, sociable, kindly, congenial, affable, gracious, cheery, convivial, good-natured, agreeable, amicable

Nearby words

  1. genevieve, saint,
  2. geneviève,
  3. genf,
  4. genfersee,
  5. genghis khan,
  6. genial tubercle,
  7. geniality,
  8. genially,
  9. genic,
  10. genicular

Origin of genial

1
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

genial

2
[ juh-nahy-uh l ]
/ dʒəˈnaɪ əl /

adjective Anatomy, Zoology.

of or relating to the chin.

Origin of genial

2
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for genial

British Dictionary definitions for genial

genial

1
/ (ˈdʒiːnjəl, -nɪəl) /

adjective

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

Word Origin for genial

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

adjective

anatomy of or relating to the chin

Word Origin for genial

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

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for genial

genial

[ jĭ-nī′əl ]

adj.

Of or relating to the chin.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.