genial
1 of 2adjective (1)
John Milton genial
2 of 2adjective (2)
Did you know?
Genial derives from the Latin adjective genialis, meaning "connected with marriage." When genial was first adopted into English in the mid-16th century, it meant "of or relating to marriage," a sense that is now obsolete. Genialis was formed in Latin by combining the -alis suffix (meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by") with genius, meaning "a person's disposition or inclination." As you may have guessed, Latin genius is the ancestor of the English word genius, meaning "extraordinary intellectual power"—so it's logical enough that genial eventually developed a sense (possibly influenced by the German word genial) of "marked by very high intelligence."
Synonyms
Adjective (1)
- affable
- agreeable
- amiable
- good-natured
- good-tempered
- gracious
- mellow
- nice
- pleasant
- sweet
- well-disposed
Word History
Adjective (1)
Latin genialis, from genius
Adjective (2)
Greek geneion chin, from genys jaw — more at chin
Adjective (1)
circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adjective (2)
1828, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
genial
adjective
Medical Definition
genial
adjective
genially
adverb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- affably
- amiably
- congenially
- cheerfully
- cheerily
- cordially
- graciously
- friendlily
- good-naturedly
- sweetly
- courteously
- hospitably
- thoughtfully
- considerately
- kindly
- reasonably
- nicely
- ungrudgingly
- generously
- liberally
- bounteously
- amply
- benevolently
- unstintingly
- selflessly
- unselfishly
- munificently
- good-heartedly
- handsomely
- bountifully
- magnanimously
- charitably
- beneficently
- lavishly
- philanthropically
- altruistically
- humanely
- openhandedly
- well
- freehandedly
- freeheartedly
- kindheartedly
- bigheartedly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- scornfully
- contemptuously
- rudely
- coldly
- disdainfully
- coolly
- parsimoniously
- ungenerously
- angrily
- cooly
- provocatively
- stingily
- obnoxiously
- hostilely
- belligerently
- grudgingly
- frigidly
- begrudgingly
- set on its ear
- set one straight
- set one's hand to
- set one's heart on
- set one's house in order
- set one's mind to
- set one's mind to something
- set one's own house in order
- set one's sights on
- set one's teeth on edge
- set oneself against
- set oneself up as
- set oneself up as something
- set out
- set pattern
- set pen to paper
- set piece
- set pieces
- set pin
- set point
- set pot
- set priorities
- set right
- set sail
- set sample