March 31, 2005, 20:02
CaterwaullerGenuine
Do
genius and
genuine come from the same root? How closely related are they?
April 01, 2005, 02:44
arnieThere is a probably a connection via the Latin word
gignere "beget, produce".
According to the
Online Etymology Dictionary genius is:
quote:
1390, from L. genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE base *gen- "produce." Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" first recorded 1649.
The same source says for
genuine:
quote:
1596, from L. genuinus "native, natural," from root of gignere "beget" (see genus), perhaps infl. in form by contrasting adulterinus "spurious." Alternative etymology is from L. genu "knee," from an ancient custom of a father acknowledging paternity of a newborn by placing it on his knee.
April 02, 2005, 06:08
aputThe original meaning was 'inborn', making it likely the supposed connexion with
genu 'knee' is spurious. However, the
-u- in the word is unexpected: the root
gen- 'be born', shouldn't evince that, whereas 'knee' would.
However, there is a parallel in
ossuary: the Latin root for 'bone' shouldn't ever give a stem with a
-u-, but it does here, and it's clear it's just a re-formation: there's no other root contaminating it.
April 02, 2005, 06:22
jheemWelcome back, aput. You've been missed. There is an old (at least medieval) folk etymology that relates knees and genitalia. The zodiacal sign of Capricorn ruling both parts of the body.