ingenuous Definition
in·genu·ous (in jen′yo̵̅o̅ əs)
adjective
- Obsolete of noble birth or nature
- frank; open; candid
- simple; artless; naive; without guile
Etymology: L ingenuus, native, inborn, freeborn, noble, frank < ingignere, to engender < in-, in + gignere, to produce: see genus
ingenuous Related Forms
in·gen′u·ously adverb
in·gen′u·ous·ness noun
ingenuous Synonyms
ingenuous
modif.
Frank
open, candid, straightforward, undisguised; see frank.Simple
unsophisticated, artless, plain; see naive. See syn. study at naive.
ingenuous Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- thought: What is wanting to ingenuous thought, to potential philosophy?
- authenticity: For me, his films show an ingenuous authenticity for the portrayal of his characters.
- spirit: He not only tells us of the loss of happiness, which is very grievous to an ingenuous spirit: Heb.
Modifying Another Word
Browse dictionary entries near ingenuous
- ‹ ingenuity
- ‹ ingenious
- ‹ ingenerate
- ‹ ingeminate
- ‹ Inge
- ‹ ingather
- ‹ -ing
- ‹ ingénue
- ‹ infusorian
- ‹ infusorial
- ingenuously ›
- ingenuousness ›
- Ingersoll ›
- ingest ›
- ingesta ›
- ingle ›
- inglenook ›
- Inglewood ›
- inglorious ›
- ingoing ›

