Genial

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈdʒiːnɪəl/

Definitions

1. Having a warm and pleasant manner that makes others feel comfortable
2. Showing kindness and a bright, cheerful attitude toward people
3. Displaying a happy and affable nature that encourages friendliness

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "genial" is that its sense of warmth grew out of a spirit. In ancient Rome, a "genius" was a guardian spirit attached to a person, a place or a family, and the Latin adjective "geniālis" referred to whatever pertained to that spirit: marriage rites, feasts and festive pleasures. Those celebrations were meant to honour the spirit, so the idea of cheerfulness came along with them. The word passed into French as "génial" and reached English later, where it kept the sense of cheerful good company. Over time the festive note softened into the friendly, sociable warmth it carries today. Its look is misleading, though. It is not connected to "genius" in the sense of brilliance, even though the two share a root in Latin "genius". The English word is also sometimes traced to a Greek word meaning "chin", but that link is a separate, much less certain line of descent and should not be confused with the Roman spirit.

Synonyms: friendly, cheerful, warm, pleasant, sociable

Antonyms: hostile, unfriendly, cold, aloof, distant