genius
1 of 2noun
Mary Rossgenius
2 of 2adjective
Entertainment Weekly Justin Hawkins Vogue
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The Spiritual Origins of Genius
The belief system of the ancient Romans included spirits that were somewhere in between gods and humans and were thought to accompany each person through life as a protector. The Latin name for this spirit was genius, which came from the verb gignere, meaning "to beget." This sense of "attendant spirit" was first borrowed into English in the 14th century. Part of such a spirit's role was to protect a person's moral character, and from that idea an extended sense developed in the 16th century meaning "an identifying character." In time, that meaning was extended to cover a special ability for doing something, and eventually genius acquired senses referring particularly to "very great intelligence" and "people of great intelligence."
Synonyms
Noun
- brain
- brainiac
- intellect
- thinker
- whiz
- wiz
- wizard
Example Sentences
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022 Following Norm’s death, Kyle Smith and Daniel Tenreiro wrote (as did former NR staffer Teddy Kupfer) eloquently on the man’s life and genius. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 17 Sep. 2022 But even someone who knows nothing about tennis could watch Federer and see the artistry and genius at play. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 Liszt worshipped Chopin as a genius, but his love was not returned. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 The show entailed a fictional character named Dr. Gregory House that was gruff, insufferable, and quite unconventional, yet he was portrayed as a medical genius that could ferret out the most obscure of diseases and ailments. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 And don't forget that vegetables are great for stuffing, too—from main dishes, like these Salmon-Stuffed Zucchini Boats, to side dishes, such as these genius Stuffed Baked Tomatoes with Herbs. Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022 It could have been seen as genius or as, who cares? Alan Light, WSJ, 7 June 2022 Released this week, the third chapter of jeen-yuhs crystalizes the myth of Kanye West as a creative genius stifled by a society that refuses to accept him. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Noun
Latin, tutelary spirit, natural inclinations, from gignere to beget
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1924, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing genius
Kids Definition
genius
noun
Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Medical Definition
genius
noun
genius
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- wizard
- intellect
- brainiac
- wiz
- whiz
- thinker
- nerd
- brain
- virtuoso
- intellectual
- savant
- geek
- polymath
- master
- sage
- highbrow
- natural
- blue
- bluestocking
- polyhistor
- crackerjack
- Renaissance man
- longhair
- crackajack
- ace
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- idiot
- moron
- imbecile
- dunce
- dolt
- numbskull
- dope
- blockhead
- knucklehead
- dummy
- pinhead
- illiterate
- ignoramus
- goon
- numskull
- nitwit
- fathead
- dodo
- hammerhead
- lowbrow
- fool
- dumbbell
- philistine
- half-wit
- ass
- jackass
- know-nothing
- donkey
- beast
- clown
- jerk
- creep
- snake
- louse
- heel
- skunk
- stinker
- boor
- cretin
- cad
- lout
- cur
- anti-intellectual
- churl
Synonyms & Similar Words
- talent
- knack
- aptitude
- gift
- flair
- bent
- endowment
- faculty
- skill
- affinity
- eye
- ear
- tendency
- mind
- instinct
- impulse
- inclination
- feel
- propensity
- power
- predisposition
- bias
- head
- predilection
- capacity
- penchant
- disposition
- competence
- potential
- proficiency
- proclivity
- capability
- turn
- way
- touch
- facility
- nose
- leaning
- partiality
- hang
- habitude
- forte
- specialty
- speciality
- specialism
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disability
- incapacity
- inability
- weakness
- handicap
- shortcoming
Synonyms & Similar Words
- aptitude
- inclination
- devices
- tendency
- knack
- affinity
- talent
- affection
- impulse
- predilection
- penchant
- proclivity
- predisposition
- propensity
- disposition
- gift
- bias
- bent
- addiction
- flair
- leaning
- partiality
- preference
- turn
- bone
- habitude
- appetite
- like
- prejudice
- endowment
- taste
- idiosyncrasy
- liking
- eccentricity
- fondness
- singularity
- fancy
- quirk
- partisanship
- faculty
- speciality
- forte
- habit
- favor
- peculiarity
- trick
- specialty
- practice
- one-sidedness
- oddity
- pattern
- custom
- convention
- wont
- routine
- way
- practise
- kink
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- allergy
- dislike
- distaste
- aversion
- objectivity
- disinclination
- indifference
- neutrality
- detachment
- impartiality
- disfavor
- disrelish
- nonchalance
- disliking
- averseness
- disinterestedness
- apathy
- insouciance
- unconcern
Synonyms & Similar Words
- self
- personality
- nature
- character
- colors
- tone
- characteristic
- constitution
- essence
- spirit
- trait
- singularity
- temperament
- composition
- disposition
- clay
- complexion
- sort
- uniqueness
- hallmark
- soul
- individuality
- feature
- attribute
- distinctiveness
- temper
- distinctness
- habit
- property
- makeup
- substance
- flavor
- way
- stamp
- stuff
- point
- mark
- interior
- essentiality
- metal
- grain
- savor
- earmark
- interiority
- essentiality
- savour
Synonyms & Similar Words
- manifestation
- essence
- incarnation
- icon
- personification
- image
- avatar
- abstract
- epitome
- externalization
- model
- realization
- incorporation
- objectification
- soul
- embodier
- embodiment
- personalization
- personifier
- exemplification
- instantiation
- quintessence
- reincarnation
- ikon
- actualization
- paradigm
- exemplar
- concretization
- archetype
- substantiation
- pattern
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of genius are aptitude, bent, faculty, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.
The words aptitude and genius are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.
Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.
While the synonyms faculty and genius are close in meaning, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.
While in some cases nearly identical to genius, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.
The meanings of knack and genius largely overlap; however, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.
The words talent and genius can be used in similar contexts, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.