congenital
kun-JEN-ih-tuladjMeaning present from birth; also, being so by nature, as if born that way
Memory hook CON-GEN: there WITH him since BIRTH. Felix has smiled at rainy days since he was a baby, and he still splashes in puddles, grinning: his cheerfulness is congenital.
Uncle Felix is a congenital optimist who smiles even in a rainstorm.
In context Her honesty seemed almost congenital: her parents said that even as a toddler she had owned up to every cookie she took.
Similar inborn, innate, natural, born
Opposite acquired
From Latin congenitus, “born with”: con- (with) + genitus (born).