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genii

[jee-nee-ahy]
noun
  1. a plural of genius.
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genius

[jeen-yuh s]
noun, plural gen·ius·es for 2, 3, 8, gen·i·i [jee-nee-ahy] /ˈdʒi niˌaɪ/ for 6, 7, 9, 10.
  1. an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.: the genius of Mozart.
  2. a person having such capacity.
  3. a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an IQ above 140.
  4. natural ability or capacity; strong inclination: a special genius for leadership.
  5. distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.
  6. the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.
  7. either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.
  8. a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing: Rasputin, the evil genius of Russian politics.
  9. Islamic Mythology. jinn; genie.
  10. genie(def 3).
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Origin of genius

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: tutelary deity or genius of a person; cf. genus
Can be confusedgenius genus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

acumen, knack, prowess, ability, ingenuity, intelligence, accomplishment, brilliance, wisdom, originality, imagination, aptitude, talent, prodigy, inspiration, inventiveness, flair, bent, brain, aptness

Examples from the Web for genii

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The genii of the East have woven this banner from the rays of benignant stars.

    Leila, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • Genii know all that men know, and many other things besides, chevalier.

    The Conspirators

    Alexandre Dumas (Pere)

  • They thought the genii was King Hagag and they halted before him.

  • The genii on the throne and Hagag looked long at each other.

  • The genii of the Arabian Nights may have in their magic their lure and fascination for us.

    Creative Unity

    Rabindranath Tagore

British Dictionary definitions for genii

genii

noun
  1. the plural of genius (def. 5), genius (def. 6)
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genius

noun plural -uses or for senses 5, 6 genii (ˈdʒiːnɪˌaɪ)
  1. a person with exceptional ability, esp of a highly original kind
  2. such ability or capacityMozart's musical genius
  3. the distinctive spirit or creative nature of a nation, era, language, etc
  4. a person considered as exerting great influence of a certain sortan evil genius
  5. Roman myth
    1. the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death
    2. the guardian spirit of a place, group of people, or institution
  6. Arabian myth (usually plural) a demon; jinn
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Word Origin

C16: from Latin, from gignere to beget
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 genii

n.

Latinate plural of genius.

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genius

n.

late 14c., "tutelary god (classical or pagan)," from Latin genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent;" also "prophetic skill," originally "generative power," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE root *gen- "produce." Sense of "characteristic disposition" is from 1580s. Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" and that of "natural ability" are first recorded 1640s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper