congenital
pronunciation
How to pronounce congenital in British English:
UK [kənˈdʒenɪtl]
How to pronounce congenital in American English:
US [kənˈdʒɛnɪtl]
-
- Adjective:
- present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
Word Origin
- congenital (adj.)
- "existing from birth," 1796, from Latin congenitus, from com- "together, with" (see com-) + genitus, past participle of gignere "to beget" (see genus). The sense formerly belonged to congenial. Related: Congenitally.
Example
- 1. Most hernias in children are congenital .
- 2. A congenital lip deformity caused him to speak in a nasal almost unintelligible whisper .
- 3. Certain directors are congenital gossips , and too immature to serve on the boards of serious organisations .
- 4. Grumpy service , mr novikov laments , is a sort of congenital national defect-one that he attributes to the mysterious russian soul .
- 5. A second recorded congenital abnormalities .