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Webster 1913 Edition

Ingenious

In-gen′ious

,
Adj.
[L.
ingeniosus
, fr.
ingenium
innate or natural quality, natural capacity, genius: cf. F.
ingénieux
. See
Engine
.]
1.
Possessed of genius, or the faculty of invention; skillful or promp to invent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to form new combinations;
as, an
ingenious
author, mechanic
.
A man . . . very wise and
ingenious
in feats of war.
Hakluyt.
Thou, king, send out
For torturers
ingenious
.
Shakespeare
The more
ingenious
men are, the more apt are they to trouble themselves.
Sir W. Temple.
2.
Proceeding from, pertaining to, or characterized by, genius or ingenuity; of curious design, structure, or mechanism;
as, an
ingenious
model, or machine; an
ingenious
scheme, contrivance, etc.
Thus men go wrong with an
ingenious
skill.
Cowper.
3.
Witty; shrewd; adroit; keen; sagacious;
as, an
ingenious
reply
.
4.
Mental; intellectual.
[Obs.]
A course of learning and
ingenious
studies.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Ingenious

INGE'NIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. ingeniosus, from ingenium; in and genius, geno, gigno, to beget.
1.
Possessed of genius, or the faculty of invention; hence, skillful or prompt to invent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to form new combinations of ideas; as an ingenious author; an ingenious mechanic.
The more ingenious men are, the more apt are they to trouble themselves.
2.
Proceeding from genius or ingenuity; of curious design, structure or mechanism; as an ingenious performance of any kind; an ingenious scheme or plan; an ingenious model or machine; ingenious fabric; ingenious contrivance.
3.
Witty; well formed; well adapted; as an ingenious reply.
4.
Mental; intellectual. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

ingenious

ingenious

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

ingenious ‎(comparative more ingenious, superlative most ingenious)

  1. Displaying genius or brilliance; tending to invent.
    This fellow is ingenious; he fixed a problem I didn't even know I had.
  2. Characterized by genius; cleverly done or contrived.
    That is an ingenious model of the atom.
  3. Witty; original; shrewd; adroit; keen; sagacious.
    He sent me an ingenious reply for an email.

Usage notes

Do not confuse with ingenuous.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:witty
  • See also Wikisaurus:intelligent

Related terms

Translations

References

  • ingenious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • ingenious in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Etymology

From Middle French ingénieux, from Old French engenious, from Latin ingeniosus ‎(“endowed with good natural capacity, gifted with genius”), from ingenium ‎(“innate or natural quality, natural capacity, genius”), from in ‎(“in”) + gignere ‎(“to produce”), Old Latin genere. See also engine.

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -iːniəs

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