genius loci

English

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)

1. (Roman mythology) The minor deity or spirit watching over a particular place.
2. (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

• (inspirational atmosphere): geist, muse, ambience

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

deity or spirit overseeing a place

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 場所精神／场所精神, 场所精神 (chǎngsuǒ jīngshén)

• Japanese: 地霊 (ちれい, chirei)
• Polish: duch miejsca m

References

• “‖genius loci” listed as a phrase featuring the word genius, listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2^nd Ed.; 1989]
• “ge⋅ni⋅us lo⋅ci defined by Dictionary.com Unabridged, © Random House, Inc. 2009.