late Middle English: from Latin, attendant spirit present from one's birth, innate ability or inclination', from the root of gignere 'beget'. The original sense 'tutelary spirit attendant on a person' gave rise to a sense 'a person's characteristic disposition' (late 16th cent.), which led to a sense 'a person's natural ability', and finally 'exceptional natural ability' (mid 17th cent.)
