1. gĕnĭus — Lewis & Short
gĕnĭus, i (m.root GEN, gigno; prop., the superior or divine nature which is innate in everything, the spiritual part, spirit; hence,
voc. geni, Tib. 4, 5, 9 M. dub.),I the tutelar deity or genius of a person, place, etc. (cf.: lares, penates).
I In gen.:
genium dicebant antiqui naturalem deum uniuscujusque loci vel rei aut hominis,Serv. Verg. G. 1, 302; cf. Voss ad loc.; Verg. A. 5, 95; Juv. 6, 22; Liv. 21, 62, 9; Mart. 7, 12, 10:
eundem esse genium et larem, multi veteres memoriae prodiderunt, in queis etiam Granius Flaccus,Censor. de Die Nat. 3, 2; Prud. adv. Symm. 2, 369; 444:
scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum, Naturae deus humanae, mortalis in unum Quodque caput, vultu mutabilis, albus et ater,Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 187:
genius tuus malus,Flor. 4, 7, 8. —In urgent petitions and in oaths appeals were made to the Genius of the person addressed, or to that of some eminent person:
te per Genium ... Obsecro et obtestor,Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 94; cf. Sen. Ep. 12, 12; Tib. 4, 5, 8; Suet. Calig. 27; Dig. 12, 2, 13, § 6.—
On festal occasions the Genius was propitiated: cras Genium mero Curabis et porco bimestri,Hor. C. 3, 17, 14; id. Ep. 2, 1, 144; id. A. P. 210; Pers. 2, 3; Ov. Am. 1, 8, 94 et saep.; cf. Tib. 1, 7, 49:
magne Geni, cape dona libens votisque faveto,id. 4, 5, 9:
acceptus Geniis December (because the Saturnalian festivals occurred in it),Ov. F. 3, 58:
genium loci ... precatur,Verg. A. 7, 136:
GENIO LOCI,Inscr. Orell. 343 sq.; 1697; 1701:
COLONIAE,ib. 367; 1693 sq.:
MVNICIPII,ib. 689; 1690 sq.:
CVRIAE,ib. 1120:
FORI VINARII,ib. 4087:
THEATRI,ib. 1713:
Lateranus deus est focorum et Genius,Arn. 4, 6 et saep.:
Priapi,Petr. 21:
Famae,Mart. 7, 12, 10:
JOVIS,Inscr. Orell. 1730; 2488:
DEORVM,ib. 1730.—
II In partic.
A With respect to the enjoyment of life.
1 The spirit of social enjoyment, fondness for good living, taste, appetite, inclination:
isti qui cum geniis suis belligerant, parcipromi,Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 81; cf.:
egomet me defraudavi Animumque meum geniumque meum,id. Aul. 4, 9, 15; and:
suum defrudans genium,sacrificing his inclinations, Ter. Phorm. 1, 1, 10 Ruhnk.:
sapis multum ad genium,Plaut. Pers. 1, 3, 28:
hic quidem meliorem Genium tuum non facies,id. Stich. 4, 2, 42:
nunc et amico meo prosperabo et genio meo multa bona faciam,id. Pers. 2, 3, 11:
indulge genio: carpamus dulcia,id. ib. 5, 151.—Hence,
2 A term used by parasites for entertainer, patron:
ecquis est, qui mihi commonstret Phaedromum genium meum?Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 22; 5, 2, 29; id. Capt. 4, 2, 99; id. Men. 1, 2, 29. —
B Of the intellect, wit, talents, genius (very rare):
nemo mathematicus genium indemnatus habebit,Juv. 6, 562:
victurus genium debet habere liber,Mart. 6, 60, 10. —Hence, in a pun with the preced. signif., Mart. 7, 78, 7.