Genesis

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ə.sɪs/

Definitions

1. The origin or beginning of something, especially its formation or creation
2. The term refers to the process of coming into existence or the act of arising, particularly concerning the foundational moments of an entity or concept
3. It signifies the start or initial phase of something new, often related to formation or emergence into being

Etymology: The Greek word "génesis" meant "origin, source, beginning," and it came from the verb "gígnomai," meaning "to be produced, become, be." The sense of coming into being is built into the word from the start. Its Latin form, "genesis," meant "generation" or "nativity," the act of being born or produced, and English took it over in that sense. The word is also a doublet of "kind," "gens," and "jati," which means it shares a common ancestor with those words. "Kind," "gens" (family or clan), and "jati" (a social group in Hindu tradition) all come from the same root for birth and descent, so "genesis" sits alongside them as a more formal cousin. Its most famous use in English is as the title of the first book of the Bible, where the Greek Septuagint translation gave the Hebrew opening word its name, meaning "origin" or "birth" of the world and of humanity.

Synonyms: origin, beginning, creation, inception, foundation

Antonyms: end, termination, conclusion, finish, death