genius loci
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin genius loci (“tutelary deity of a/the place”), from the singular genitive form of locus (“place”).
Pronunciation
- (General American) enPR: gĕʹnĭo͝os' lōʹki, jēʹnyəs lōʹkī, jēʹnyəs lōʹsī, IPA(key): /ˈɡɛnɪˌʊs ˈloʊki/, /ˈd͡ʒinjəs ˈloʊkaɪ/, /ˈd͡ʒinjəs ˈloʊsaɪ/
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: gĕʹnĭo͝os' lōʹki, jēʹnyəs lōʹkī, jēʹnyəs lōʹsī, IPA(key): /ˈɡɛnɪˌʊs ˈləʊki/, /ˈd͡ʒinjəs ˈləʊkaɪ/, /ˈd͡ʒinjəs ˈləʊsaɪ/
Noun
genius loci (plural genii loci or genii locorum)
- (Roman mythology) The minor deity or spirit watching over a particular place.
- (figuratively) The spirit or atmosphere of a place, especially conceived as a source of artistic inspiration.
Usage notes
In English, genius loci is often italicized as a Latin phrase. It employs the Latin nominative plural but is usually not otherwise grammatically declined. The plural form genii loci describes multiple spirits overseeing a single place; the plural form genii locorum describes multiple spirits overseeing multiple places; and the latter should not be confused with genius locorum, which describes a single spirit overseeing multiple places.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
- See tutelary deity and Thesaurus:spirit
Hyponyms
- genius locorum (overseeing multiple places)
Related terms
- genius hominis (overseeing a person)
- genius familiae (overseeing a family)
Translations
References
- “‖genius loci” listed as a phrase featuring the word genius, listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989]
- “ge⋅ni⋅us lo⋅ci defined by Dictionary.com Unabridged, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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