Lexicon: genius – gently

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genius, n. [L. gigno, to be born, to come into being, to beget.]

Particular natural talent or aptitude of mind for a particular study or course of life; as, a genius for history, for poetry, or painting; particular power of invention; also pagan belief of personal attendant god or spirit who governs fortune and determines character.

Genoa, proper n. [Welsh gen, jaw < IE root gen, curve, bend.]

Italian republic; birthplace of Christopher Columbus; harbor town on the Gulf of Genoa in Italy; community known in the nineteenth century as the city of a thousand palaces; [fig.] homeland; native country; place of origin; the known world.

Gentian, proper n. [L. < Gentius, king of Illyria.]

Gentiana lutea; purple wildflower that blooms in the fall; medicinal plant; remedy for discouragement; [see ED letters.]

Gentile, proper adj. [Fr. < L. 'nation'.]

Christian; converted; no longer of the Jewish tradition; [lit.] European; Roman and Greek; of the Indo-European nations neighboring the Middle East; [irony] pagan; heathen; heretical; infidel; blasphemous; worldly; [word play on “gentle”] kind; Christ-like.

gentility, n. [see gentile, adj.]

Personality of well-born; good extraction; aristocrats; higher class; dignity of birth; persons of polite manners, genteelness, social superiority, above the common.

gentle (-est), adj. [OFr 'high born, noble' < L. gens, race, family.]

  1. Mild; soft; peaceable; courteous; polite; not harsh or irritating.
  2. Soothing; pacific.
  3. Free from severity or violence; peaceable; not harsh or severe.

gentlefolk, n. [see gentle, adj. + folk, n.]

Persons of good manners and breeding; good position and family.

gentleman (gentlemen), n. [see gentle, adj. + man, n.]

Man of good breeding, politeness, and civil manners, with chivalrous instincts and fine feelings.

gentlewomen, n. [see gentle, adj. + woman, n.]

Women of good family or of good breeding; women above the vulgar.

gently, adv. [see gentle, adj.]

Softly; meekly; mildly; with tenderness; without violence or roughness; quietly; moderately and subdued.