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Webster 1913 Edition

Ingenuous

In-gen′u-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
ingenuus
inborn, innate, freeborn, noble, frank; pref.
in-
in + the root of
gignere
to beget. See
Genius
, and cf.
Ingenious
.]
1.
Of honorable extraction; freeborn; noble;
as,
ingenuous
blood of birth
.
2.
Noble; generous; magnanimous; honorable; upright; high-minded;
as, an
ingenuous
ardor or zeal
.
If an
ingenuous
detestation of falsehood be but carefully and early instilled, that is the true and genuine method to obviate dishonesty.
Locke.
3.
Free from reserve, disguise, equivocation, or dissimulation; open; frank;
as, an
ingenuous
man; an
ingenuous
declaration, confession, etc.
Sensible in myself . . . what a burden it is for me, who would be
ingenuous
, to be loaded with courtesies which he hath not the least hope to requite or deserve.
Fuller.
4.
Ingenious.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. – Open; frank; unreserved; artless; plain; sincere; candid; fair; noble; generous.
–
Ingenuous
,
Open
,
Frank
. One who is open speaks out at once what is uppermost in his mind; one who is frank does it from a natural boldness, or dislike of self-restraint; one who is ingenuous is actuated by a native simplicity and artlessness, which make him willing to confess faults, and make known his sentiments without reserve. See
Candid
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ingenuous

INGEN'UOUS

,
Adj.
[L. ingenuus.] Open; frank; fair; candid; free from reserve, disguise, equivocation or dissimulation; used of persons or things. We speak of an ingenuous mind; an ingenuous man; an ingenuous declaration or confession.
1.
Noble; generous; as an ingenuous ardor or zeal; ingenuous detestation of falsehood.
2.
Of honorable extraction; freeborn; as ingenuous blood or birth.

Definition 2024

ingenuous

ingenuous

English

Adjective

ingenuous ‎(comparative more ingenuous, superlative most ingenuous)

  1. Naive and trusting.
  2. Demonstrating childlike simplicity.
    • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, ch. 12
      "Do you mean to say you didn't leave your wife for another woman?"
      "Of course not."
      "On your word of honour?"
      I don't know why I asked for that. It was very ingenuous of me.
  3. Unsophisticated; simple.
  4. Unable to mask one's feelings.
  5. Straightforward, candid, open, and frank.

Translations

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:naive

Antonyms

Usage notes

Do not confuse with ingenious.

Etymology

From Latin ingenuus ‎(“of noble character, frank”).

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ɪnˈdʒɛn.ju.əs/

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