ˈjēnē, ˈjinē, -ni noun
or jinn or djinn or djin ˈjin ; also djin·ni or jin·nee ˈjēnē, jinē, -ni
( plural jinn or jinns or djinns also djinn or djins )
Etymology: Arabic finnīy demon, spirit
1. : one of a class of beneficent or malevolent spirits in Islam that inhabit the earth, that are capable of assuming various forms, and that exercise supernatural power
2. : a supernatural spirit
some jinni of the air made visible for a moment — Osbert Sitwell
scoffing at the idea of casting out a jinni — Alan Villiers
especially : one that takes on human form and serves the one who summons him
magically summoning his private jinni — Hamilton Basso