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definitions

genial

1
[jeen-yuhl, jee-nee-uhl]
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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.

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

Synonyms for genial

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR genial ON THESAURUS.COM
1. friendly, hearty, pleasant, agreeable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for geniality

amenity, amiability, gladness, joviality, cheerfulness, happiness, kindliness, agreeableness, heartiness, joy, affability, kindness, pleasantness, conviviality, cordiality, warmth, jollity, gratefulness, mirth, friendliness

Examples from the Web for geniality

Contemporary Examples of geniality

Historical Examples of geniality

  • 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

genial

1

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

2

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
n.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
geniality in Medicine

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.