genial

[jeen-yuhl, jee-nee-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR genial ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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Origin of genial

1560–70; < Latin geniālis festive, jovial, pleasant, equivalent to geni(us) tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR genial

1. friendly, hearty, pleasant, agreeable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR genial ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for geniality

The angry and defensive manner is replaced by a sincere warmth and geniality.
Rediscovering Richard Dawkins: An Interview|J.P. O’Malley|September 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
With his office-students, Dr. Crosby was the very soul of geniality and confidence.
The History of Dartmouth College|Baxter Perry Smith
Then, arrived at the cabin, he would be all courtesy and geniality.
The Eye of Dread|Payne Erskine
Here is Lemuel—cursed with a lean run and yet trying to maintain at least an appearance of geniality.
How To Write Special Feature Articles|Willard Grosvenor Bleyer

He had been prepared for unpleasantness; but this geniality on the part of his brother-in-law he found disarming.
Adventures of Bindle|Herbert George Jenkins
It was not geniality itself, but might be third cousin to it.
The Two Vanrevels|Booth Tarkington

British Dictionary definitions for geniality

genial

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

genial

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 geniality

geniality

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

Medicine definitions for geniality

genial

[jĭ-nī′əl]

adj.

Of or relating to the chin.