genuine
pronunciation
How to pronounce genuine in British English:
UK [ˈdʒenjuɪn]
How to pronounce genuine in American English:
US [ˈdʒenjuɪn]
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- Adjective:
- not fake or counterfeit
- not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed
- being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
Word Origin
- genuine
- genuine: [16] Latin genu meant ‘knee’ (it comes from the same Indo-European ancestor as English knee, and gave English genuflection [16]). In Rome and elsewhere in the ancient world, it was the convention for a father to acknowledge a newly-born child as his own by placing it on his knee – hence the child was genuinus.=> genuflection, knee
- genuine (adj.)
- 1590s, "natural, not acquired," from Latin genuinus "native, natural, innate," from root of gignere "beget" (see genus), perhaps influenced in form by contrasting adulterinus "spurious." [Alternative etymology is from Latin genu "knee," from a supposed ancient custom of a father acknowledging paternity of a newborn by placing it on his knee.] Meaning "really proceeding from its reputed source" is from 1660s. Related: Genuinely; genuineness.
Example
- 1. These are the underpinnings of a genuine commercial venture .
- 2. Most of us can spot a genuine smile .
- 3. He doesn 't believe western countries are genuine democracies .
- 4. Is the recent political thaw in myanmar genuine ?
- 5. But here 's the deal ...... it must be genuine .