genie
Syllabification: (ge·nie)
Pronunciation: /ˈjēnē/
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Definition of genie
noun ( plural genies or genii /-nēˌī/)
- a spirit of Arabian folklore, as traditionally depicted imprisoned within a bottle or oil lamp, and capable of granting wishes when summoned. Compare with jinn.
Origin:
mid 17th century (denoting a guardian or protective spirit): from French génie, from Latin genius (see genius). Génie was adopted in the current sense by the 18th-century French translators of The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, because of its resemblance in form and sense to Arabic jinnī 'jinni'
