genius loci

English

Etymology

A borrowing of 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)

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

Japanese: 地霊 (ちれい, chirei)

References

“‖genius loci” listed as a phrase featuring the word genius, listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2^nd Ed.; 1989]