gĕnĭus (noun M) : (voc. geni, Tib. 4, 5, 9 M. dub.), root GEN, gigno; prop., the superior or divine nature which is innate in everything, the spiritual part, spirit; hence
* The tutelar deity or genius of a person, place, etc. (cf.: lares, penates).
* 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.
* In partic.
* With respect to the enjoyment of life.
* 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
* 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.

s. TLL