genius (3 not pre-S.)
1.
in classical pagan
belief, tutelary god or attendant spirit supposed to
be allotted to every man at his birth Tw.N. III. iv. 144,
Troil. IV. iv. 50
“the so
Cries ‘Come!’ to
him,”
Cæs. II. i. 66,
Mac. III. i. 56
“under him My genius is
rebuk'”
2.
used with allusion to
the two mutally opposed spirits (the good and the
evil genius) by whom every person was supposed to be
attended throughout his life
Tp. IV. i. 27
“the strong'st
suggestion Our worser genius
can.”
3.
embodied type or
representation
2H4 III. ii. 341
“a' was the very genius
of famine.”
