a. [mod. f. L. congenit-us (see CONGENITE) + -AL. So F. congénital, admitted into the 6th ed. of the Academy’s Dictionary in 1835. The sense was formerly expressed by congenial, Fr. congénial.]
Existing or dating from one’s birth, belonging to one from birth, born with one. a. techn. in Pathol. (as a congenital disease or defect).
1777. Med. & Philos. Comm. Edin., IV. IV. 359. A full account is given by our author of the congenital hernia, in which the intestines descend by the process of the peritonaeum, and lie in immediate contact with the testes.
1796. A. Duncan, Annals Med., I. 20. Bronchocele … is not often congenital.
1807. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg., 387. Congenital hernia.
1856. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. v. 181. The mind of an individual who labours under congenital blindness … cannot fail to be imperfect.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 365. Ordinary congenital cataract.
b. in Bot.
1862. Darwin, Fertil. Orchids, vii. 315. The so-called congenital attachment of the pollinia by their caudicles.
c. in general use. Const. with.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., IV. i. The mind of God, revealed In laws, congenital with every kind And character of man.
1852. H. Rogers, Ess., I. vii. 374. Notions, coeval with the mind in date, congenital with its very faculties.
1852. Blackie, Stud. Lang., 2. The living process of nature acting by congenital, divinely-implanted instinct.
1866. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), II. 242. The congenital differences of character in individuals.
1879. M. Arnold, Mixed Ess., 69. The French people, with its congenital sense for the power of social intercourse and manners.
