LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

genius

genius m (genitive geniī or genī)
Classical[ˈɡɛ.ni.ʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈd͡ʒɛː.ni.us]

Meaning

  1. masculinethe deity or guardian spirit of a person, place, etc.; a daemon, a daimon (cf. Ancient Greek δαίμων (daímōn))
  2. masculinean inborn nature or innate character, especially (though not exclusively) as endowed by a personal (especially tutelar) spirit or deity.
  3. masculinethe spirit of social enjoyment, fondness for good living, taste, appetite, inclinations
  4. masculinewit, talents, genius (rare)

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativegeniusgeniī
genitivegeniī
genī		geniōrum
dativegeniōgeniīs
accusativegeniumgeniōs
ablativegeniōgeniīs
vocativegenīgeniī

gĕnĭus, i (voc. geni, Tib. 4, 5, 9 M. dub.), m. root GEN, gigno; prop., the superior or divine nature which is innate in everything, the spiritual part, spirit; hence,
I. the tutelar deity or genius of a person, place, etc. (cf.: lares, penates).
I. In gen.: genium dicebant antiqui naturalem deum uniuscujusque loci vel rei aut hominis, Serv. Verg. G. 1, 302; cf. Voss ad loc.; Verg. A. 5, 95; Juv. 6, 22; Liv. 21, 62, 9; Mart. 7, 12, 10: eundem esse genium et larem, multi veteres memoriae prodiderunt, in queis etiam Granius Flaccus, Censor. de Die Nat. 3, 2; Prud. adv. Symm. 2, 369; 444: scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum, Naturae deus humanae, mortalis in unum Quodque caput, vultu mutabilis, albus et ater, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 187: genius tuus malus, Flor. 4, 7, 8. —In urgent petitions and in oaths appeals were made to the Genius of the person addressed, or to that of some eminent person: te per Genium ... Obsecro et obtestor, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 94; cf. Sen. Ep. 12, 12; Tib. 4, 5, 8; Suet. Calig. 27; Dig. 12, 2, 13, § 6.— On festal occasions the Genius was propitiated: cras Genium mero Curabis et porco bimestri, Hor. C. 3, 17, 14; id. Ep. 2, 1, 144; id. A. P. 210; Pers. 2, 3; Ov. Am. 1, 8, 94 et saep.; cf. Tib. 1, 7, 49: magne Geni, cape dona libens votisque faveto, id. 4, 5, 9: acceptus Geniis December (because the Saturnalian festivals occurred in it), Ov. F. 3, 58: genium loci ... precatur, Verg. A. 7, 136: GENIO LOCI, Inscr. Orell. 343 sq.; 1697; 1701: COLONIAE, ib. 367; 1693 sq.: MVNICIPII, ib. 689; 1690 sq.: CVRIAE, ib. 1120: FORI VINARII, ib. 4087: THEATRI, ib. 1713: Lateranus deus est focorum et Genius, Arn. 4, 6 et saep.: Priapi, Petr. 21: Famae, Mart. 7, 12, 10: JOVIS, Inscr. Orell. 1730; 2488: DEORVM, ib. 1730.—
II. In partic.
A. With respect to the enjoyment of life.
1. The spirit of social enjoyment, fondness for good living, taste, appetite, inclination: isti qui cum geniis suis belligerant, parcipromi, Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 81; cf.: egomet me defraudavi Animumque meum geniumque meum, id. Aul. 4, 9, 15; and: suum defrudans genium, sacrificing his inclinations, Ter. Phorm. 1, 1, 10 Ruhnk.: sapis multum ad genium, Plaut. Pers. 1, 3, 28: hic quidem meliorem Genium tuum non facies, id. Stich. 4, 2, 42: nunc et amico meo prosperabo et genio meo multa bona faciam, id. Pers. 2, 3, 11: indulge genio: carpamus dulcia, id. ib. 5, 151.—Hence,
2. A term used by parasites for entertainer, patron: ecquis est, qui mihi commonstret Phaedromum genium meum? Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 22; 5, 2, 29; id. Capt. 4, 2, 99; id. Men. 1, 2, 29. —
B. Of the intellect, wit, talents, genius (very rare): nemo mathematicus genium indemnatus habebit, Juv. 6, 562: victurus genium debet habere liber, Mart. 6, 60, 10. —Hence, in a pun with the preced. signif., Mart. 7, 78, 7.

Origins

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (“to beget”), perhaps through Old Latin genō (“to beget, give birth; to produce, cause”), + *-yos; compare Proto-Germanic *kunją (“kin”) and Sanskrit जन्य n (jánya, “lineage, tribe, people”), though all probably independent formations. Not related to Arabic جِنِّي (jinnī, “jinn, spirit, demon”).

Descendants
  • Catalanginy
  • Catalangeni
  • Occitangenh
  • Occitangèni
  • Englishgenius
  • Frenchgénie
  • GermanGenius
  • Italiangenio
  • Englishgeniofrom Italian genio
  • Portuguesegénio

Quick answers

What does genius mean in Latin?
genius, a noun, means “the deity or guardian spirit of a person, place, etc.; a daemon, a daimon (cf. Ancient Greek δαίμων (daímōn)); an inborn nature or innate character, especially (though not exclusively) as endowed by a personal (especiall”.
What is the genitive of genius?
The genitive singular is geniī. genius is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce genius?
In classical Latin, [ˈɡɛ.ni.ʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈd͡ʒɛː.ni.us].