genesis

¹

[jen-uh-sis]

noun

plural

geneses 

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.

Other Word Forms

• -genetic combining form
• hypergenesis noun
• Genesiac adjective
• Genesiacal adjective
• Genesitic adjective

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

While growing up in Culiacán, his hobby of writing songs took off when he befriended Pluma’s cousin Tito Double P. Both artists enlisted Vega to write for their albums: Peso Pluma’s 2023 album “Génesis” and Tito Double P’s 2024 LP “Incómodo.”

From Los Angeles Times

The SS26 men’s show, called “Temple,” was in conversation with Owens’ retrospective at the Palais Galliera, “Temple of Love,” which references his early years in L.A. as the genesis of his work.

From Los Angeles Times

Springsteen says everyone has their “genesis moment,” an experience that charts your path.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s Carmy’s genesis moment too.

From Los Angeles Times

Until this January, the elected head of the Alabama Supreme Court was a man who invoked the Book of Genesis in a concurring opinion in 2024.

From Slate

Related Words

• origin 
• provenance 

When To Use

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.