Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In anatomy, pertaining to the chin; situated on the chin; mental.
  • noun One of the dermal plates or scutes of the chin of reptiles.
  • Pertaining to marriage; nuptial; hence, pertaining to generation; generative.
  • Native; natural; innate.
  • Giving spirit or life; enlivening; warming; comforting; contributing to life and cheerfulness; supporting life.
  • Of a social spirit; cordial in disposition and manner; kindly; sympathetically cheerful.
  • Relating to or exhibiting genius.
  • Synonyms Cheering, inspiriting.
  • Hearty, pleasant.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective (Anat.) Same as genian.
  • adjective Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive.
  • adjective Contributing to, and sympathizing with, the enjoyment of life; sympathetically cheerful and cheering; jovial and inspiring joy or happiness; exciting pleasure and sympathy; enlivening; kindly.
  • adjective obsolete Belonging to one's genius or natural character; native; natural; inborn.
  • adjective rare Denoting or marked with genius; belonging to the higher nature.
  • adjective (Pagan Mythol.) the powers supposed to preside over marriage and generation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective friendly and cheerful
  • adjective pleasantly mild and warm
  • adjective marked by genius

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective diffusing warmth and friendliness
  • adjective agreeable, conducive to comfort
  • adjective of or relating to the chin or median part of the lower jaw

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin geniālis ("of or pertaining to marriage; festive, genial"), from genius ("guardian spirit") + -ālis.

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Examples

  • But with his old history professor Henry Adams and other friends, Lodge was known as a genial host, and, when political bêtes noires did not rear their fractious heads, he could work considerable charm as a guest.

    The Five of Hearts Patricia O'Toole 2008

  • But with his old history professor Henry Adams and other friends, Lodge was known as a genial host, and, when political bêtes noires did not rear their fractious heads, he could work considerable charm as a guest.

    The Five of Hearts Patricia O'Toole 2008

  • “You know,” he said to Eeyore, gearing up to his lecture in genial conversational tones.

    always a hot topic! « Magic Lantern Arts 2005

  • Opening his eyes again he saw Davey Davidson standing by the bed, his expression genial, carrying a basket of I fruit.

    two women Cole, Martina 1999

  • There was a certain genial tenderness in this atmosphere that even in the hottest day of August the eastern coast never knows.

    In Seven Stages: A Flying Trip Around the World 1891

  • A very extended landscape, however genial, is also sober in its effect on the mind.

    Queechy 1854

  • And in this area, Mr. Kishun, who emigrated from Guyana in the 1980s, won the nickname Uncle Jerry as a term of genial respect.

    NYT > Home Page By COREY KILGANNON 2011

  • Leisure, saunterings through the great balmy pine forest, luxurious explorations of shadowy glens and valleys, full of exquisite varieties of wild flowers; the warm, dry, delicious climate which invited him to take his dolce far niente under the boughs of murmuring trees, outstretched upon a couch of brown pineneedles, as elastic as it was odorous, all promised to bring back his poetical enthusiasm, and to set in genial motion the half frozen springs of his invention and fancy.

    The Poems of Henry Timrod. 1872

  • Smith is known as a genial campaigner who has historically run ahead of the rest of the Republican ticket.

    Report: Dems Searching For Candidate To Take Out Gordon Smith 2009

  • You could say, for example, that Schwarzenegger is genial, which is what people said about Reagan, but you could never say that that is his dominant characteristic.

    I Feel Earthquakes More Often Than They Happen Amy Wilentz 2006

Comments

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  • In German 'awesome', 'terrific', 'nifty'.

    January 9, 2008