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The title of "Genius"

 
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I remember the first time I went into an Apple Store, and saw that there were people with the title "Genius", I thought.... wow, that is pretty hubris.

Apparently, I am not the only one that thought this.... from my favorite TV show...



Henry
 
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Ha - I just finished watching the full episode. A very fun series.

However, I think Apple's usage is fine here, if somewhat archaic. The word has multiple meanings - see Merriam-Webster's entry for "genius":

Main Entry: ge·nius
Pronunciation: \ˈjēn-yəs, ˈjē-nē-əs\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural ge·nius·es or ge·nii \-nē-ˌī\
Etymology: Latin, tutelary spirit, natural inclinations, from gignere to beget
Date: 1513
1 a plural genii : an attendant spirit of a person or place b plural usually genii : a person who influences another for good or bad
2 : a strong leaning or inclination : penchant
3 a : a peculiar, distinctive, or identifying character or spirit b : the associations and traditions of a place c : a personification or embodiment especially of a quality or condition
4 plural usually genii : spirit, jinni
5 plural usually geniuses a : a single strongly marked capacity or aptitude <had a genius for getting along with boys — Mary Ross> b : extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity c : a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority; especially : a person with a very high IQ


Meaning 1b seems appropriate enough. See also the Online Etymology Dictionary entry:

1390, from L. genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE base *gen- "produce." Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" first recorded 1649.

 
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