Where does “genius” come from?

Genius comes from Latin genius, derived from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁-, a root meaning to beget or produce.

genius (English): Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or...

Definitions

  1. Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or...

Ancestry of “genius”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latingeniusthe deity or guardian spirit of a person, place,...
2Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth

Words derived from “genius

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁-
genius — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer