Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Latin plural of genius.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of genie.
  • noun Roman mythology Plural form of genius. guardian spirits

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Princes: of which some were absolutely good, as gods, some bad, some indifferent inter deos et homines, as heroes and daemons, which ruled men, and were called genii, or as [1171] Proclus and Jamblichus will, the middle betwixt God and men.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • These are municipal temples dedicated to beings commonly called genii by Europeans, that is to say, superhuman personages, often, but not always, departed local worthies, who for one reason or another are supposed to protect and supervise a particular town or village.

    Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 Charles Eliot 1896

  • A wise king was one who had control of the powers of earth and air, who could call the genii to his aid by incantations, and perform supernatural deeds.

    Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume VII Charles Morris 1877

  • It was not so much the cost, nor the luxury, that made the character of the chamber; it was a certain gorgeous and almost sublime phantasy, -- so that it seemed rather the fabled retreat of an enchantress, at whose word genii ransacked the earth, and fairies arranged the produce, than the grosser splendour of an earthly queen.

    Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • It is from the evil genii, in particular, that our dife prpceed 7 and it is to the good jg; enii we are indebted for a cure* 'minifters of the genii are the jugglers, who are alfo thie only phyfic among the favages.

    An historical, geographical, commercial, and philosophical view of the American United States Winterbotham, William, 1763-1829. [from old catalog] 1795

  • So may be the CTs are "genii," in the sense of being the guardian "spirits" of the Earth and its lesser creatures.

    Posthuman Blues Mac 2006

  • a Hence some imagine the genii are a species of angels: others suppose the devil to have been originally a genius, which was the occasion of his rebellion, and call him the father of the genii, whom he begat after his fall; 2 it being a constant opinion among the Mohammedans, that the angels are impeccable, and do not propagate their species. 3 1

    The Koran (Al-Qur'an) George Sale 1716

  • Railway, which, according to him, had lent all its "genii" to the

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 153, October 24, 1917 Various

  • As a rule the appellatives of Moslem "genii" end in–ús

    Arabian nights. English Anonymous 1855

  • Energetic/upbeat ( "genii" character type) twelve year old Shine Tami finds a sort of merchandise-bait space star fish; a goofy, puppy dog eyed creature that can take the shape of a backpack or flatten out into a board onto which she can surf into the sky.

    Ain't It Cool News - The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news. 2010

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