*Pronunciation:*  ˈdʒɛnjuːɪn

*Etymology:*  < Latin genuīnus. < pre-Latin *genwo- (compare ingenuus native, free-born, etc.: see ingenuous adj.), < Aryan root *gen- to beget, produce, be born: see kin n.¹

†*1.*

 *a.* Natural, not foreign or acquired, proper or peculiar to a person or thing, native. Obs.

1607   M. Drayton Legend Cromwel 10   Strongly attracted by a Genuyne light.

1612   M. Drayton Poly-olbion ix. 133   A constant Mayden still shee onely did remaine, The last her genuine lawes which stoutly did retaine.

1629   W. Prynne Church of Englands Old Antithesis 88   The selfe-same things in the same degrees, admit no æqualitie in their genuine and natiue operations.

1644   J. Bulwer Chirologia 118   This genuine blemish and epidemicall disease.

1664   H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity 87   This wicked Antichristianism, whose Image we are now setting out in its genuine colours.

1703   R. Peterson tr. G. Della Casa Galateo of Manners 98   Since it is necessary to use Genuine and proper Words in Discourse.

1712   W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 1,   I rather chuse to keep to the Language of the Sea, which is more genuine, and natural for a mariner.

†*b.* genuine to: germane to, closely connected with, arising out of. Obs.

1659   T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 344   Let us debate this. It comes orderly before you; is genuine to your question.

 *2.* Pertaining to the original stock, pure-bred.

a/1727   I. Newton /Chronol. Anc. Kingdoms Amended (1728) ii. 203   Egypt at this time was therefore under the Government of the genuine Egyptians.

1774   J. Bryant New Syst. II. 60,   I am..sprung from the genuine and respectable race of Sons.

1834   T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 21   The race of our bull-dogs is getting fast extinct, and it is rare to see one now of a pure and genuine breed.

1842   J. C. Prichard Nat. Hist. Man 171   The towns and their vicinity are occupied by the genuine Persian race.

1871   E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 295   Another grantee was William of Percy, the founder of a great name, whose genuine bearers soon passed away.

 *3.* Really proceeding from its reputed source or author; not spurious; = authentic adj. 7a.The distinction which the 18th c. apologists attempted to establish between genuine and authentic (see quot. 1796) does not agree well with the etymology of the latter word, and is not now recognised.

1654   J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. v. 90   If any of those Canons which bear their names be genuine.

1719   J. Richardson Art Crit. 145   When we have fix’d a few of the Works of the Masters as Genuine.

1757   tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. III. 189   The impossibility that all the three præputia should be genuine reliques.

1779   Johnson Butler in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets II. 14   Two volumes..have been printed..indubitably genuine.

1796   Bp. R. Watson Apol. for Bible ii. 33   A genuine book, is that which was written by the person whose name it bears, as the author of it. An authentic book, is that which relates matters of fact, as they really happened.

1833   C. F. Cruse tr. Eusebius Eccl. Hist. iii. iii. 83   As to the writings of Peter, one of his epistles called the first is acknowledged as genuine.

1850   R. W. Emerson Plato in Representative Men ii. 45   This range of Plato instructs us what to think of the vexed question concerning his reputed works—what are genuine, what spurious.

1882   F. W. Farrar Early Days Christianity II. 530 (note) ,   The fragment..is of very doubtful genuineness, and even if genuine proves nothing.

 *4.*

 *a.* Having the character or origin represented; real, true, not counterfeit, unfeigned, †unadulterated. (the) genuine article : see (the) genuine article at article n. Phrases 3b.

1640   T. Carew Poems 146   We use No..compounds that are Adulterate, but at Natures cheape expence With farre more genuine sweets refresh the sense.

1660   R. Coke Justice Vindic. Ep. Ded. 1   The true and genuine causes.

1664   H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity 214   What the genuine sense is I shall take notice in its proper place.

1712   T. Parnell in Spectator No. 501. ⁋6   The whole Vault had a genuine Dismalness in it.

1736   Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. i. 144   Christianity..teaches natural Religion, in its genuine Simplicity.

1781   Gibbon Decline & Fall III. 37   Maximus now displayed his genuine character.

1845   M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 83   Such a genuine expression of paternal regard.

1876   J. B. Mozley Serm. preached Univ. of Oxf. iv. 95   They had no genuine belief in any world which was different from theirs.

absol.

1639   N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman 34   The modesty of the simple and genuine is wholy in the hart.

 *b.* Properly so called; that is such in the proper sense.

a/1682   Sir T. Browne /Certain Misc. Tracts (1683) i. 36   The true and genuine Sycamore..which is a stranger in our parts.

1692   R. Bentley Boyle Lect. i. 3   This latter part to a genuine Atheist is meer Jargon.

1751   J. Harris Hermes i. v. 73   The genuine Pronoun always stands by itself.

1758   Idler 10 June 73   There is no mark more certain of a genuine Idler, than uneasiness without molestation.

1850   H. T. Cheever Whale & his Captors vi. 96   None but a genuine son of the sea..could make these characteristic rhymes.

1852   H. Rogers. Ecl. Faith (1853) 316   A genuine sceptic, as I am.

1879   St. George’s Hosp. Rep. 9 63   A piece of genuine false-membrane was coughed out.

 *5.* Of persons: Free from affectation or hypocrisy.

[1841 [implied in: T. Carlyle On Heroes ii. 106   One would say the primary character of the Koran is this of its genuineness, of its being a bonâ-fide book. (at genuineness n. 3)].

1853 [implied in: Dickens Let. 12 Sept. (1993) VIII. 145,   I was greatly pleased with his genuineness altogether. (at genuineness n. 3)] ].

1890   Spectator 28 June   He is a very great and genuine personage in many ways, but he has his peculiarities like other men.

Draft additions  1993

 *6.* Of a horse or greyhound: that can be relied on to do its best in a race, etc.

1974   H. E. Clarke Win at Greyhound Racing xii. 139   Ballynennan Moon was one of the tallest and slimmest of racing greyhounds. He was genuine to the nth degree. His consistent record bears this out.

1976   Horse & Hound 3 Dec. 64/1 (advt.)    Summerfield has three genuine young horses for sale.