Word of the Day: GENIAL
Gentle, gracious, and good-natured
genial (adj) - pleasantly warm, mild and helpful; promoting life and growth [jee-nee-uhl]
geniality is the quality of being friendly, cheerful, and agreeable
BREAKDOWN: The wonderful word genial derives from the Latin genialis meaning pleasant, festive, or productive. Interestingly, the word also means nuptial or pertaining to marriage, though genial doesn’t carry that connotation. Genial ultimately connects to the original genius, which refers to a guardian spirit attendant present from one’s birth or, alternately, innate ability or inclination.
See also: disingenuous, engender, indigenous, progeny
“There are persons so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure-bearing, that you instinctively feel in their presence that they do you good; whose coming into a room is like bringing a lamp there.” —Henry Ward Beecher
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]