genial Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite diffusing warmth and friendliness
    cordial; affable; amiable.
    • an affable smile
    • an amiable gathering
    • cordial relations
    • a cordial greeting
    • a genial host
  2. adjective of or relating to the chin or median part of the lower jaw
    mental.
  3. adjective satellite agreeable, conducive to comfort
    kind.
    • a dry climate kind to asthmatics
    • the genial sunshine
    • hot summer pavements are anything but kind to the feet

WordNet

Ge*ni"al adjective
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) Same as Genian.
Gen"ial adjective
Etymology
L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.
Definitions
  1. Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. "The genial bed." Milton.
    Creator Venus, genial power of love. Dryden.
  2. Contributing to, and sympathizing with, the enjoyment of life; sympathetically cheerful and cheering; jovial and inspiring joy or happiness; exciting pleasure and sympathy; enlivening; kindly; as, she was of a cheerful and genial disposition.
    So much I feel my genial spirits droop. Milton.
  3. Belonging to one's genius or natural character; native; natural; inborn. Obs.
    Natural incapacity and genial indisposition. Sir T. Browne.
  4. Denoting or marked with genius belonging to the higher nature. R.
    Men of genius have often attached the highest value to their less genial works. Hare.

Webster 1913