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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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for geniality

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • She sympathised with it now, for a little comfort had restored her geniality.

    Howards End

    E. M. Forster

  • It was months since Natt had witnessed such an access of geniality on Paul's part.

    A Son of Hagar

    Sir Hall Caine

  • Rubinstein was all courtesy, all geniality, all encouragement.

    The Genius

    Margaret Horton Potter

  • As he advanced to me his manner was almost urbane in its geniality.

    The Trail of '98

    Robert W. Service

  • The ruddy countenance of the pumpkin was the very picture of geniality.

    By the Christmas Fire

    Samuel McChord Crothers

British Dictionary definitions for geniality

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 geniality

n.

c.1600, "festivity;" 1650s, "cheerfulness," from Late Latin genialitas "festivity, pleasantness," from Latin genialis (see genial).

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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
geniality 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.