genie

Everyday

1. In stories from Arabia and the Middle East, a magic spirit, often living in a lamp or bottle, who must obey whoever sets it free and may grant wishes. tree →
2. (informal) «the genie is out of the bottle» means something has happened that cannot be undone. tree →

In the lessons

Found in fairy tales, especially «Aladdin» from The Thousand and One Nights. The older Arabic word is «jinn» or «djinn»; in Kipling's Just So Stories, «How the Camel Got His Hump», the Djinn in charge of All Deserts gives the lazy Camel his hump. In stories a genie brings magic, wishes and often a lesson about wanting too much.

Examples

• Aladdin rubbed the lamp and a genie appeared. tree →
• The genie said, «Your wish is my command.» tree →
• If you met a genie, what would you wish for? tree →
• The Djinn gave the Camel a hump for saying «Humph!» tree →
• The genie was trapped in the bottle for a thousand years. tree →
• Once the secret was out, the genie couldn't be put back in the bottle. tree →
• In the play, my friend dressed up as a genie. tree →
• "Master, I obey," said the genie. tree →

Note

Say «JEE-nee». Plural: genies (or old genii). Related to Arabic «jinn/djinn». Genies are made-up, from stories; they are not real.