generous 
=8yn. 3. Magnanimous, etc. (see noble); high-minded. 
4. Open-handed; free-handed. 
generously (jen'e-rus-li), adv. In a generous 
manner; honorably; not meanly; nobly; mag- 
nanimously; liberally; munificently. 
If there be one whose riches cost him care, 
Forth let him bring them for the troops to share ; 
'Tis better generously bestow'd on those, 
Than left the plunder of our country's foes. 
Pope, Iliad, xvlii. 
generousness (jen'e-rus-nes), n. The character 
of beiiig generous, in any sense of that word. 
I should not have presumed to this dedication, had I 
not been encouraged by that generousness and sweetness 
of disposition which does so eminently adorn your lord- 
ship's place and abilities. Bp. WUkins, Mercury, Ded. 
geneses,". Plural of genesis. 
genesiacal (jen-e-si'a-kal), a. [Irreg. < Genes-is 
+ -i-ac-al."] Of or pertaining to the book of 
Genesis. [Rare.] 
Before the waters (and here is the peculiar error of the 
genesiacal bard) some of the ancients claimed the pre- 
existence of light, . . . while others asserted that chaos 
prevailed. Damson, Orig. of World, p. 56. 
genesial (je-ne'si-al), a. [< genesi-s + -a/.] 
Of or belonging to generation. Imp. Diet. 
genesiology (je-ue-si-ol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. yeveatf, 
origin, generation, + -toyia, < teyuv, speak: 
see -ology.~\ The science or doctrines of gen- 
eration. Imp. Diet. 
genesis (jen'e-sis), M. ; pi. geneses (-sez). [= F. 
genese = Sp. genesis = Pg. genesis = It. geiiesi 
= D. G., etc., Genesis (first book of the Bible), < 
L. genesis, generation, nativity (LL. as name of 
the first book of the Bible), < Gr. yeveatf, origin, 
source, beginning, nativity, generation, pro- 
duction, creation, < yiyveaSai, second aor. yr- 
vea6ai, be produced, become, be, -\/ yev = L. 
y gen in gignere, OL. genere, beget, produce, = 
Skt. i/jan, beget. See further under genus.'} 1 . 
The act or process of begetting, originating, or 
creating; generation; procreation; production; 
formation; creation. 
The origin and genesis of poor Sterling's club. Carlyle. 
Those to whom the natural genesis of simpler phenom- 
ena has been made manifest still believe in the super- 
natural genesis of phenomena which cannot have their 
causes readily traced. II. Spencer. 
2. Mode of generation ; especially, the way in 
which or the means by which natural propaga- 
tion is effected. [In this sense the word is especially 
used in technical compounds denoting various kinds of 
generation among animals and plants. See abiogenesis, 
agamogenesis, biogenesis, gamvgenesis, geneagenesis, homo- 
genesis, heterogenesis, parthenogenesis, xenogenesis, etc.] 
3. An explanation or account of the origin of 
something. 
Under his . . . genesis of its powers. De Quincey. 
The older geneses, whether of the world or of mind, are 
so simple and ultimate, have been rounded to such epic 
completeness and sublimity, that, as they are superseded 
by still larger and loftier conceptions, their dissotutive 
phases are often pathetic. Amer. Jour. Psychol., I. 156. 
4. leap.'] The first book of the Old Testament. 
It records the creation of the world, the flood and the 
ensuing dispersion of races, and a more detailed history 
of the families of the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, 
and Jacob. The traditional and still widely prevalent 
view ascribes the authorship to Moses. Many modern 
scholars, however, find strong evidences of various periods 
of authorship, and particularly of two chief sources, the 
so-called Jehovistic and Elohistic. According to the latter 
view, the dates of composition fall chiefly within the period 
of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel (about the eighth cen- 
tury B. 0.), the last redaction occurring perhaps after the 
return from Babylon. In Hebrew the book is designated 
by its first word, B'reshith, 'In the beginning'; the title 
Genesis was supplied in the early Greek translation. Ab- 
breviated Gen. See documentary hypothesis (under docu- 
mentary), Elohistic, Jehovistic. 
5. In math., same as generation, 4. 
Genesitic (jen-e-sit'ik), a. [Irreg. < Genes-is + 
-it-ic.~\ Of or pertaining to Genesis ; recorded 
in the book of Genesis. [Rare.] 
It may be observed that the Genesitic account of the 
Great Patriarch [Abraham] has suggested to learned men 
the idea of two Abrahams, one the son of Terah, another 
the son of Azar. B. F. Burton, El-Mediuah, p. 482. 
genet 1 , . S&ejennefl. 
genet 2 (je-nef), n. [Formerly also genet,jen- 
nett, genette; < OF. genette, F. genette, < Sp. gi- 
iieta, Pg. gincta, geneta (ML. geneta, NL. ge- 
netta), a genet, < Ar. jarneit (Dozy), a genet.] 
1 . A kind of civet-cat ; a vi verrine carnivorous 
quadruped of the family Viverridie, or civets; 
the Genetta vulgaris or riverra genetta, and 
other species of the restricted genus Genetta. 
The common genet inhabits southern Europe, western 
Asia, and northern Africa. It is about as large as a cat, 
but of more slender form, with sharper nose, snorter legs, 
and longer tail, the body of a dark-gray color profusely 
spotted with blackish, the tail ringed with black and white, 
and the head spotted with white. It is sometimes domesti- 
cated, and makes a good inonser ; it produces a kind of 
civet, used for perfume, and the fur is also valuable. 
2485 
Genet (Genetta 
A warrant to Sir Andrew Dudley, to deliver to Robert 
Robotham. yeoman of the robes, to keep for the king, one 
fur of black jennets, taken out of a gown of purple cloth 
of silver tissue. Strype, Memorials, Edw. VI., an. 1552. 
2. The fur of the genet, which is made into 
muffs and tippets ; hence, catskin made up in 
imitation of this fur and used for the same 
purpose. 
genete, n. See ginete. 
genethliac (je-neth'li-ak), a. and n. [I. a. = F. 
genethliaque = Sp. genetliaco = Pg. genethliaco 
= It. genetliaco, < LL. genethliacus, < Gr. yeve- 
0AzKOf, belonging to a birthday, a caster of 
nativities, < ymmUof, of or belonging to one's 
birth, natal, < yevkffkn, race, stock, family, birth- 
place, birthday, < yiyveoBat, yeveaffai, be pro- 
duced, be born : see genesis, genus. II. n. <LL. 
genethliacus, a caster of nativities, genethliacon, 
a birthday poem, < Gr. yevetft.iaKo*;: seel.] I. a. 
Pertaining to one's birthday or nativity; spe- 
cifically, in astrol., pertaining to nativities as 
calculated by astrologers ; relating to genitures 
or to the doctrine of them ; showing the posi- 
tions of the stars at the birth of any person. 
Also genethliacal. 
The night immediately before he was slighting the art 
of those foolish astrologers and genethliacal ephemerists, 
that use to pry into the horoscope of nativities. 
Uowell, Vocall Forrest. 
But this Star-gazing destiny, ludiciall, Coniecturall, Ge- 
nethliacall Astrologie, Reason and Experience, God and 
Man, haue condemned. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 65. 
II. H. 1. A birthday poem. Also genethliacon. 
2. One who is versed in genethlialogy. 
Commend me here to all genfthliacs, casters of nativi- 
ties, star-worshippers, by this token, that they are all im- 
postors, and here proved fools. Rev. T. Adams, Works, 1. 9. 
Chaldffians, learn'd genethliacks, 
And some that have writ almanacks. 
S. Butler, Hudibras, II. iii. 68!). 
3. pi. Same as genethlialogy. 
genethliaca, . Plural of genethliacon. 
genethliacal (jen-eth-li'a-kal), a. [< genethliac 
+ -a/.] Same as genethliac. 
genethliacon (jen-eth-H'a-kon), n.; pi. geneth- 
liaca (-ka). Same as genethliac, 1. 
Reioysings . . . for magnificence at the natiuities of 
Princes children, or by custome vsed yearely vpon the 
same dayes, are called songs natall or Genethliaca. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 37. 
The eclogue is not, in our opinion, prophetic in charac- 
ter. It is a genethliacon, or birthday ode, commemorat- 
ing a past event. Edinburgh Rev., CXLV. 478. 
genethlialogy (je-neth-li-al'o-ji), n. [< Gr. 
yevM.iaAoyia, casting of nativities, < ycvedZr/, 
birthplace, birthday, + -Aoym, < 'Aeyuv, speak: 
see -ology.~] The art of calculating nativities by 
astrology, or predicting the course of a child's 
life from the positions of the planets, zodiac, 
etc., at the instant of birth. Also genethliacs. 
It seems by Strabo that one of the sects of the Chaldeans 
did so hold to astronomy still, that they wholly rejected ge- 
nethlialogy. StilKngfleet, Origines Sacra, i. 3. (Latham.) 
genethliatic (je-neth-li-at'ik), n. [Irreg. for 
fenetJiliac, .] One who calculates nativities. 
Bare.] 
The truth of astrological predictions is not to be referred 
to the constellations ; the genethliaticks conjecture by the 
disposition, temper, and complexion of the person. 
Drummond. 
genetic (je-net'ik),"a. and . [= F. genetique, < 
Gr. yivfaif (*yeven-), generation, genesis, + -ic. 
Adjectives formed from compound nouns in 
-genesis take the form -genetic.'] I. a. Of or per- 
taining to genesis in any way ; as regards ori- 
gin or mode of production. 
So inscrutable is genetic history ; impracticable the the- 
ory of causation, and transcends all calculus of man's de- 
vising. Carlyle, Misc., IV. 78. 
The higher kinds of literature [are] the only kinds that 
live on, because they had life at the start, . . . born of 
some genetic principle in the character of the people and 
the age which produce them. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 219. 
Genetic affinity, in bwl, relationship by direct descent; 
true affinity, implying genetic relationship expressed in 
morphological characters, as distinguished from any su- 
genial 
perficial resemblance, however close, which results from 
adaptive modification. Genetic definition, (a) The 
definition of a kind (originally of a geometrical figure) 
by means of a rule for the production of an individual of 
that kind. (b) The definition of a natural kind by means 
of an explanation of how such things first came to be. 
Genetic method, that method in philosophy and sci- 
ence which endeavors to throw light upon the natures of 
things of different kinds by considering in what manner 
such objects have come into being. 
II. n. A medicine which acts on the sexual 
organs. [Rare.] 
genetical (je-net'i-kal), a. [< genetic + -al.] 
Same as genetic. 
genetically (je-net'i-kal-i), adv. In a genetic 
manner; by means of genesis; by an act or 
process of generation. 
These types of life . . . need not be genetically con- 
nected with each other. Dawson. 
geneting (jen'et-ing), n. Same as jenneting. 
Genetta (je-net'a), n. [NL. : see genet%.~] A ge- 
nus of Viverridce", distinguished from Pwerraby 
the lack of a pouch for the civet; the genets 
proper. G. vulgaris is the common genet, formerly called 
Viverra genetta. There are several other species, as the 
herbe, G. pardina, the Senegal genet, G. senegalensis, etc. 
See cut under genets. 
genettet, Same as genefi. 
genevat (je-ne'va), w. [A corruption, by con- 
fusion with the town of Geneva in Switzerland 
(cf. hollands, (. Holland), of what would reg. be 
"genever, with accent orig. on the first sylla- 
ble (ME. gynypre, > nit. E. gin 5 ), = D. jenever 
= G. Dan. Sw. genever, < OF. genevre, F. ge- 
nievre = Sp. ginebra = Pg. genebra = It. gine- 
pro, juniper, juniper-berry, gin, < L. junipervs, 
juniper: see juniper and gin 6 ."] A spirit dis- 
tilled from grain or malt with the addition of 
juniper-berries : now called, by contraction, 
gin. 
Last Thursday morning a woman, . . . coming out of a 
geneva shop in Red Cross Street, fell down, and within 
some few minutes departed this mortal life. 
Read's Weekly Journal, Jan. 4, 1718, quoted in S. Dowell'i 
[Taxes in England, IV. 104. 
Geneva arbitration. See arbitration. 
Geneva award. See Alabama claims, under 
claim 1 . 
Geneva Bible. See Bible. 
Geneva convention. A convention signed by 
the great continental powers and by Great Brit- 
ain, in 1864 and 1865, providing for the neutral- 
ity of ambulances and hospitals, and for the 
protection of sanitary officers, military and na- 
val chaplains, and citizens rendering help to the 
sick and wounded, the same to be free from 
capture. 
Geneva cross. A red Greek cross on a white 
ground, displayed on flags and armlets for the 
protection, in time of war, of persons serving 
ambulances and hospitals, and of citizens ren- 
dering help to the sick and wounded. See Ge- 
neva convention. 
Geneva gown. See gown. 
Genevan (je-ne'van), a. and . [< Geneva, L. 
Genava, less correctly Geneva, Genna.~\ I. a. 
Pertaining to Geneva in Switzerland Genevan 
catecMsm. See catechism, _>. Genevan theology, 
Calvinism : so called from the residence of Calvin in Ge- 
neva, and the official establishment of his doctrines there. 
II. n. 1. An inhabitant of Geneva ; a Gene- 
yese. 2. An adherent of Genevan or Calvin- 
istic theology; a Calvinist. See Calvinism. 
Genevanism (je-ne'van-izm), M. [< Genevan + 
-(>;.] Calvinism. 
Genevese (jeii-e-ves' or -vez'), a. and . [< 
Genera + -cse.] I. a. Genevan. 
II. . sing, and pi. A native or natives of 
Geneva. 
genevrette (jen-e-vref), [< F. genevrier, 
juniper, juniper-tree.] A wine made in Europe 
from wild fruits and flavored with juniper-ber- 
ries. 
gengt. n. and v. See ging and gang. 
genial 1 (je'nial), a. [= D. geniaal = G. Dan. 
Sw. genial = OF. genial = Sp. P|*. genial = It. 
geniale, < L. genialis, of or belonging to the ge- 
nius or tutelary deity, particularly of a married 
couple, hence nuptial ; also, of or belonging 
to enjoyment, pleasant, delightful, < genius, 
genius, also social spirit or enjoyment: see ge- 
nius.'] 1 . Pertaining to marriage ; nuptial ; 
hence, pertaining to generation ; generative. 
The genial bed, where Hymen keeps 
The solemn orgies, void of sleeps. 
/)'. Jonson, Masque of Hymen. 
The genial country of Dante and Buonarotti gave birth 
to Christopher Columbus. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., I. 5. 
Rather . . . did I take 
That popular name of thine to shadow forth 
The all-generating powers and genial heat 
Of Niton, Tennyson, Lucretiiu. 
