genuine English · revision 5627

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=1596|origins=la genuīnus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdʒen.ju.ɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|genuīnus|t=native, natural, innate]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its origin is disputed.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart, MWU, Collins and Etymonline derive it from the root of [[m|la|gignere|t=to beget]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*ǵenh₁-|alt=*gene-|t=to give birth, beget]],^(Etymonline) perhaps influenced by ingenuus “native, freeborn” and by the contrasting adulterīnus “spurious”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Hoad, NODE, the SOED and Word Origins derive it instead from [[m|la|genū|t=knee]], from the Roman custom of a father acknowledging a newborn child by placing it on his knee;^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)^(Cresswell 2021) Barnhart finds no semantic connection with genū that stands up to close examination.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Natural, not foreign or acquired: 1596.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline has the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original sense, natural or proper, is in the privateer Woodes Rogers in 1712: “the Language of the Sea, which is more genuine, and natural for a mariner”;^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002) it was obsolete by the early 18th century.^(SOED 2002) Really coming from its reputed source, authentic, is from 1661, the 1660s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Real, not counterfeit, is from before 1639,^(OED 1989) and of pure original stock from 1728.^(OED 1989) Of persons, free from affectation or hypocrisy, sincere, is from 1840.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1596 – natural, native.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1639 – real, not counterfeit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1661 – authentic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1728 – pure-bred.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1840 – sincere.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Real and exactly what it appears to be; not fake: ''genuine leather''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Honestly felt; [[sincere]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a person, honest and open.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[genuinely]]

+ * [[genuineness]]

+ * [[nongenuine]]

+ * [[ungenuine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[genus]]

+ * [[ingenuous]]

+ * [[kin]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary notes that many British people wrongly believe the usual American pronunciation is /ˈdʒen.ju.aɪn/; that is in fact a minority pronunciation.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}