1. a. Exceptional or transcendent intellectual and creative power: "True genius rearranges old material in a way never seen before" (John Hersey). b. One who possesses such power.
2. a. A natural talent or inclination. Use with to or for: She has a genius for acting. b. One who has such a talent or inclination: He is a genius at diplomacy.
3. The prevailing spirit or character, as of a place, person, time, or group: the genius of the Elizabethan poets.
4. Roman Mythology. a. A tutelary deity or guardian spirit allotted to a person from birth. b. Any guiding spirit of a person or place.
5. A person who has influence over another.
6. Moslem Mythology. A jinni or demon.
[Latin genius, deity of generation and birth, guardian spirit. See gene- in Appendix.]