Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GE'NI-AL, a. [L. genialis, from geno, gigno, Gr. γενναω, γινομαι.]

1. Contributing to propagation or production; that causes to produce. Creator, Venus, genial power of love. Dryden.
2. Gay; merry. Warton.
3. Enlivening; contributing to life and cheerfulness; supporting life. So much I feel my genial spirits droop. Milton.
4. Native; natural. [Not usual.] Brown. The genial gods, in pagan antiquity, were supposed to preside over generation, as earth, air, fire and water.

GE-NI-AL'I-TY, n.

Gayety; cheerfulness.

GE'NI-AL-LY, adv.

1. By genius or nature; naturally. [Little used.] Glanville.
2. Gayly; cheerfully. Johnson.

GE-NIC'U-LATE, v.t.

To form joints or knots. Cockeram.

GE-NIC'U-LA-TED, a. [L. geniculatus, from geniculum, a knot or joint, from the root of genu, the knee. See Knee.]

Kneed; knee-jointed; having joints like the knee a little bent; as, a geniculated stem or peduncle. Martyn.

GE-NIC'U-LA-TING, ppr.

Knotting; jointing.

GE-NIC-U-LATION, n.

Knottiness; the state of having knots or joints like a knee. Johnson.

GE'NI-I, n. [L. plur.]

A sort of imaginary intermediate beings between men and angels; some good and some bad. Encyc.

GE'NI-O, n. [It. from L. genius.]

A man of a particular turn of mind. Tatler.

GEN'I-TAL, a. [L. genitalis, from the root of gigno, Gr. γενναω, to beget.]

Pertaining to generation or the act of begetting.

GEN'I-TALS, n. [plur.]

The parts of an animal which are the immediate instruments of generation.

GEN'I-TING, n. [Fr. janeton.]

A species of apple that ripens very early.

GEN'I-TIVE, a. [L. genitivus, from the root of gender.]

In grammar, an epithet given to a case in the declension of nouns, expressing primarily the thing from which something else proceeds; as, filius patris, the son of a father; aqua fontis, the water of a fountain; But by custom this case expresses other relations, particularly possession or ownership; as, animi magnitudo, greatness of mind, greatness possessed by or inherent in the mind. This case often expresses also that which proceeds from something else; as, pater septem filiorum, the father of seven sons.

GEN'I-TOR, n.

One who procreates; a sire; a father. Sheldon.

GEN'I-TURE, n.

Generation; procreation; birth. Barton.

GE'NI-US, n. [L. from the root of gigno, Gr. γενναω, to beget.]

1. Among the ancients, a good or evil spirit or demon supposed to preside over a man's destiny in life, that is, to direct his birth and actions and be his guard and guide; a tutelary deity; the ruling and protecting power of men, places or things. This seems to be merely a personification or deification of the particular structure or bent of mind which a man receives from nature, which is the primary signification of the word.
2. The peculiar structure of mind which is given by nature to an individual, or that disposition or bent of mind which is peculiar to every man, and which qualifies him for a particular employment; a particular natural talent or aptitude of mind for a particular study or course of life; as, a genius for history, for poetry, or painting.
3. Strength of mind; uncommon powers of intellect, particularly the power of invention; In this sense we say, Homer was a man of genius. Hence,
4. A man endowed with uncommon vigor of mind; a man of superior intellectual faculties. Shakspeare was a rare genius. Addison.
5. Mental powers or faculties. [See No. 2.]
6. Nature; disposition; peculiar character; as, the genius of the times.

GEN-O-ESE', n.

An inhabitant, or the people of Genoa in Italy.

GENT, a.

Elegant; pretty; gentle. [Not in use.] Spenser.

GEN-TEEL, a. [Fr. gentil; It. gentile; Sp. gentil; L. gentilis, from gens, race, stock, family, and with the sense of noble or at least respectable birth, as we use birth and family.]

1. Polite; well bred; easy and graceful in manners or behavior; having the manners of well bred people; as, genteel company; genteel guests.
2. Polite; easy and graceful; becoming well bred persons; as, genteel manners or behavior; a genteel address.
3. Graceful in mien or form; elegant; as, the lady has a genteel person.
4. Elegantly dressed. Law.
5. Decorous; refined; free from any thing low or vulgar; as, genteel comedy. Addison.

GEN-TEEL-LY, adv.

Politely; gracefully; elegantly; is the manner of well bred people.

GEN-TEEL'NESS, n.

1. Gracefulness of manners or person; elegance; politeness. We speak of the genteelness of a person or of his deportment.
2. Qualities befitting a person of rank. Johnson.

GEN'TIAN, n. [L. gentiana; Fr. gentiane; Ar. كَنْطَا kanta.]

The popular name of a genus of plants, of many species. The officinal gentian is a native of the mountainous parts of Germany. The root, the only part used, has a yellowish brown color and a very bitter taste, and is used as an ingredient in stomachic bitters. It is sometimes called felwort. Encyc.

GEN-TIAN-EL'LA, n.

A kind of blue color.

GEN'TIL, n.

A species of falcon or hawk.

GEN'TILE, a.

Pertaining to pagans or heathens.