Word Frequency
genius (ˈdʒiːnɪəs
; -njəs)
Definitions
noun
(plural) -uses (for senses 5, 6) genii (ˈdʒiːnɪˌaɪ
) - a person with exceptional ability, esp of a highly original kind
- such ability or capacity ⇒
Mozart's musical genius
- the distinctive spirit or creative nature of a nation, era, language, etc
- a person considered as exerting great influence of a certain sort ⇒
an evil genius
- (Roman mythology)
- the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death
- the guardian spirit of a place, group of people, or institution
- (Arabian mythology) usually plural a demon; jinn
adjective
- (informal) clever and original
Word Origin
C16: from Latin, from gignere to begetSynonyms
View thesaurus entry = brilliance, ability, talent, capacity, gift, bent, faculty, excellence, endowment, flair, inclination, knack, propensity, aptitude, cleverness, creative power, GEnys
Quotations including 'genius'
"Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration"
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him"
"The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction"
"Genius is ... the child of imitation"
"If I have seen further [than other men] it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants"
"Genius must be born, and never can be taught"
"In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts"
"I have nothing to declare but my genius"
"Every man of genius is considerably helped by being dead"
"Genius does what it must,And Talent does what it can"
"It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing"
"Genius is only a greater aptitude for patience"
Translations for 'genius'
- British English: genius Genius is very great ability or skill in something....his genius for chess.ˈdʒiːnɪəs; -njəs NOUN
- Arabic: عَبْقَرِيّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: gênio
- Chinese: 天才
- Croatian: genij
- Czech: génius
- Danish: geni
- Dutch: genie
- European Spanish: genio
- Finnish: nero
- French: génie
- German: Genie Genies
- Greek: μεγαλοφυΐα
- Italian: genio
- Japanese: 天才
- Korean: 천재
- Norwegian: geni
- Polish: geniusz geniuszka
- Portuguese: génio
- Romanian: talent talente
- Russian: гений
- Spanish: genio
- Swedish: geni
- Thai: อัจฉริยบุคคล
- Turkish: dahizeki
- Ukrainian: геній
- Vietnamese: thiên tài
Example Sentences Including 'genius'
Even for a Pope with a true genius for PR, this is a tall order.Irish Times (2002)
For the same reason he shied from painting portraits -'his genius was not for the specific,' says Hedley.Country Life (2005)
He'd be pleased to see Guthrie, he was even more pleased that the unknown genius sounded willing to talk turkey.Something in the Water
It didn't take a genius to figure out that something wasn't right.BETTER THAN THIS (2002)
It is money in these psychological aspects, disdained by the fastidious economists, that has fascinated writers of genius.Globe and Mail (2003)
No doubt the mark of a genius (or a madman) at such a juncture would be to choose the former.MORTIFICATION: Writers' Stories of their Public Shame (2003)
Of course, Castlemaine was a sexual engine, a genius of the genitals.THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)
Other viewers will be gobsmacked by the mastery with which Haneke presents the tale - his genius is show rather than tell.Glasgow Herald (2001)
Phillips does not see Dickinson's solitariness as an expression of her gender, but of her genius.Glasgow Herald (2001)
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Comments
'genius' definition based on an original suggestion by WordMonkey made on the 27 August 2012.
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