A supernatural being from Arabian and Islamic mythology, often depicted as granting wishes when summoned. Also known as a jinn or djinn.
From French génie, ultimately from Arabic jinni, plural jinn, meaning 'demons' or 'spirits'. The word entered English through French translations of Arabian tales, with the wish-granting aspect popularized by 'The Arabian Nights'.
The Western idea of genies as wish-granters is actually quite different from original Arabic folklore, where jinn were complex beings with their own agendas! Our lamp-rubbing, three-wishes version is largely a Hollywood creation based on sanitized Victorian translations.
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