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ingenuous definition

in·genu·ous (in jen′yo̵̅o̅ əs)

adjective

  1. Obsolete of noble birth or nature
  2. frank; open; candid
  3. simple; artless; naive; without guile

Etymology: L ingenuus, native, inborn, freeborn, noble, frank < ingignere, to engender < in-, in + gignere, to produce: see genus

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ingenuous Synonyms

ingenuous

modif.

  1. Frank

    open, candid, straightforward, undisguised; see frank.

  2. Simple

    unsophisticated, artless, plain; see naive. See syn. study at naive.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ingenuous Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • thought: What is wanting to ingenuous thought, to potential philosophy?

Modifying Another Word

  • too: Beside, there's no such thing as idiot-proof; idiots are far too ingenuous.
ingenuous usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"ingenuous." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ingenuous>

APA Style

ingenuous. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ingenuous

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