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Origin and history of photogenic

photogenic(adj.)

1839, "produced or caused by light," from photo- "light" + -genic "produced by." Originally in photogenic drawing, the early term for "photography;" meaning "photographing well" is first attested 1928, from photo- as short for "photograph."

Entries linking to photogenic

1939, from tele- "television" + ending from photogenic.

Judith Barrett, pretty and blonde actress, is the first Telegenic Girl to go on record. In other words, she is the perfect type of beauty for television. ... She is slated for the first television motion picture. [Baltimore Sun, Oct. 16, 1939]

word-forming element meaning "producing, pertaining to generation;" see -gen + -ic.

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