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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:

ingenuous Synonyms

ingenuous

modif.

  1. Frank

    open, candid, straightforward, undisguised; see frank.

  2. 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

  • too: Beside, there's no such thing as idiot-proof; idiots are far too ingenuous.
  • rather: Personal statements Personal statements tend to come over as a rather ingenuous hard sell.
  • also: Cleverly segueing between stories... von Stockert's use of props and set is also ingenuous.