genesis

¹

[ jen-uh-sis ]

noun

, plural gen·e·ses [jen, -, uh, -seez].

1. an origin, creation, or beginning.

Genesis

²

[ jen-uh-sis ]

noun

1. the first book of the Bible, dealing with the Creation and the Patriarchs. : Gen.

-genesis

³

1. a combining form of genesis:

   parthenogenesis.

-genesis

¹

combining form

1. indicating genesis, development, or generation

   biogenesis

   parthenogenesis

Genesis

²

/ ˈdʒɛnɪsɪs /

noun

1. the first book of the Old Testament recounting the events from the Creation of the world to the sojourning of the Israelites in Egypt

genesis

³

/ ˈdʒɛnɪsɪs /

noun

1. a beginning or origin of anything

Genesis

1. The first book of the Old Testament ; its first words are “In the beginning ” ( genesis is a Greek word for “beginning”). It covers the time from the beginning of the world through the days of the patriarchs , including the stories of the Creation , Adam and Eve , the Fall of Man , Cain and Abel , Noah and the Flood , God's covenant with Abraham, Abraham and Isaac , Jacob and Esau , and Joseph and his brothers .

Derived Forms

• -genetic, combining_form:in_adjective

Other Words From

• hy·per·gen·e·sis noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of genesis¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin: “generation, birth,” from Greek génesis “origin, source”

Origin of genesis²

First recorded before 1100; from Latin: literally “generation, creation,” from Greek Génesis, the Greek rendering of Hebrew bĕrēʾshith, the first word of the Biblical book, traditionally translated “in the beginning”; genesis ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of genesis¹

New Latin, from Latin: genesis

Origin of genesis²

Old English: via Latin from Greek; related to Greek gignesthai to be born

Example Sentences

(Genesis 9:25) You disclaim these voices from the past, but to LGBT people, your voice sounds a lot like theirs.

From The Daily Beast

According to Genesis, when God created humanity he created “humankind in his image” and “male and female he created them.”

From The Daily Beast

You are in some way in line with the creative genesis of the universe.

From The Daily Beast

Even in the 1930s at the genesis of his long relationship with Vogue, the sheer drama of his work obliterated the competition.

From The Daily Beast

Q: What was the genesis of the film; and what made you interested in working with Joan?

From The Daily Beast

Obviously a tremendous question arises here as to how a story should be found in Genesis xiv.

From Project Gutenberg

Hunis versified the whole book of Genesis, calling it a hive full of honey.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, the latter played so important a part in the genesis of this work that it is necessary to speak of it in detail.

From Project Gutenberg

But, on reference to the Sanscrit, there is a curious identity apparent between the second verse in Genesis and a Hindoo idea.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you remember that passage of the Bible which some one read before us; it was the twenty-fifth chapter of Genesis.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• origin
• provenance

Words That Use -genesis

What does -genesis mean?

The combining form –genesis is used like a suffix meaning “genesis.” Genesis means “an origin, creation, or beginning.” The form –genesis is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. In particular, it describes the process of creation.

The form –genesis comes from Greek génesis, meaning “origin” or “source,” source of the English word genesis. The Latin translation of –génesis is orīgō, which is the source of words such as aboriginal and origin. To learn more, check out our entries for both aboriginal and origin.

What are variants of –genesis?

While the form –genesis doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the combining form –genetic, as in phylogenetic. The form –genesis is also closely related to the combining forms –gen, –geny, –genic, and –genous, as in pathogen, heterogeny, hallucinogenic, and heterogenous. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for –genetic, –genic, –geny, –genic, and –genous.

Examples of -genesis

One example of a scientific term that uses –genesis is biogenesis, “the production of living organisms from other living organisms.”

The form bio– means “life,” from Greek bíos, and as we know, –genesis means “origin” or “source.” Biogenesis literally translates to “life source.”

What are some words that use the combining form –genesis?

• adermogenesis
• androgenesis
• cytogenesis
• heterogenesis
• petrogenesis
• thermogenesis
• zygogenesis

What are some other forms that –genesis may be commonly confused with?

• -gamous
• -gony
• -gynous

Break it down!

The combining form cyto– means “cell.” With this in mind, what does cytogenesis mean?