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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

in·gen·u·ous

Audio Help [in-jen-yoo-uh

–adjective

1.	free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation; candid; sincere.

2.	artless; innocent; naive.

3.	Obsolete. honorable or noble.

[Origin: 1590–1600; < L ingenuus native, free-born, honorable, frank, equiv. to in- in-² + gen- (base of gignere; see ingenious) + -uus deverbal adj. suffix; see -ous

]

—Related forms

in·gen·u·ous·ly, adverb

in·gen·u·ous·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. frank, straightforward, open. 2. guileless.

—Usage note See ingenious.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Ingenuous

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·gen·u·ous Audio Help (ĭn-jěn'yōō-əs) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Lacking in cunning, guile, or worldliness; artless.
Openly straightforward or frank; candid. See Synonyms at naive.
Obsolete Ingenious.

[Latin ingenuus, honest, freeborn; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]

in·gen'u·ous·ly adv., in·gen'u·ous·ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ingenuous

1598, from L. ingenuus "with the virtues of freeborn people, of noble character, frank," originally "native, freeborn," from in- "in" + gen-, root of gignere "beget, produce" (see genus). Sense of "artless, innocent" is 1673, from notion of "honorably straightforward."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

ingenuous
adjective
1.	characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious; "an ingenuous admission of responsibility" [ant: artful]
2.	lacking in sophistication or worldliness; "a child's innocent stare"; "his ingenuous explanation that he would not have burned the church if he had not thought the bishop was in it" [syn: innocent]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ingenuous

Can*did\ (k[a^]n"d[i^]d), a. [F. candide (cf. It. candido), L. candidus white, fr. cand[=e]re to be of a glowing white; akin to accend[e^]re, incend[e^]re, to set on fire, Skr. chand to shine. Cf. Candle, Incense.]

1. White. [Obs.]

The box receives all black; but poured from thence, The stones came candid forth, the hue of innocence. --Dryden.

2. Free from undue bias; disposed to think and judge according to truth and justice, or without partiality or prejudice; fair; just; impartial; as, a candid opinion. "Candid and dispassionate men." --W. Irving.

3. Open; frank; ingenuous; outspoken.

Syn: Fair; open; ingenuous; impartial; just; frank; artless; unbiased; equitable.

Usage: Candid, Fair, Open, Frank, Ingenuous. A man is fair when he puts things on a just or equitable footing; he is candid when be looks impartially on both sides of a subject, doing justice especially to the motives and conduct of an opponent; he is open and frank when he declares his sentiments without reserve; he is ingenuous when he does this from a noble regard for truth. Fair dealing; candid investigation; an open temper; a frank disposition; an ingenuous answer or declaration.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ingenuous

Frank\, a. [Compar Franker; superl. Frankest.] [F. franc free, frank, L. Francus a Frank, fr. OHG. Franko the name of a Germanic people on the Rhine, who afterward founded the French monarchy; cf. AS. franca javelin, Icel. frakka. Cf. Franc, French, a., Franchise, n.]

1. Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. [R.] "It is of frank gift." --Spenser.

2. Free in uttering one's real sentiments; not reserved; using no disguise; candid; ingenuous; as, a frank nature, conversation, manner, etc.

3. Liberal; generous; profuse. [Obs.]

Frank of civilities that cost them nothing. --L'Estrange.

4. Unrestrained; loose; licentious; -- used in a bad sense. --Spenser.

Syn: Ingenuous; candid; artless; plain; open; unreserved; undisguised; sincere. See Candid, Ingenuous.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ingenuous

In`ge*nu"i*ty\, n. [L. ingenuitas ingenuousness: cf. F. ing['e]nuit['e]. See Ingenuous.]

1. The quality or power of ready invention; quickness or acuteness in forming new combinations; ingeniousness; skill in devising or combining.

All the means which human ingenuity has contrived. --Blair.

2. Curiousness, or cleverness in design or contrivance; as, the ingenuity of a plan, or of mechanism.

He gives . . . To artist ingenuity and skill. --Cowper.

3. Openness of heart; ingenuousness. [Obs.]

The stings and remorses of natural ingenuity, a principle that men scarcely ever shake off, as long as they carry anything of human nature about them. --South.

Syn: Inventiveness; ingeniousness; skill; cunning; cleverness; genius.

Usage: Ingenuity, Cleverness. Ingenuity is a form of genius, and cleverness of talent. The former implies invention, the letter a peculiar dexterity and readiness of execution. Sir James Mackintosh remarks that the English overdo in the use of the word clever and cleverness, applying them loosely to almost every form of intellectual ability.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ingenuous

In*gen"u*ous\, a. [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.

Note: (Formerly) printers did not discriminate between . . . ingenuous and ingenious, and these words were used or rather printed interchangeably almost to the beginning of the eighteenth century. --G. P. Marsh.

Syn: Open; frank; unreserved; artless; plain; sincere; candid; fair; noble; generous.

Usage: 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's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ingenuous

In*gen"u*ous\, a. [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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ingenuous

O"pen\, a. [AS. open; akin to D. open, OS. opan, G. offan, Icel. opinn, Sw. ["o]ppen, Dan. aaben, and perh. to E. up. Cf. Up, and Ope.]

1. Free of access; not shut up; not closed; affording unobstructed ingress or egress; not impeding or preventing passage; not locked up or covered over; -- applied to passageways; as, an open door, window, road, etc.; also, to inclosed structures or objects; as, open houses, boxes, baskets, bottles, etc.; also, to means of communication or approach by water or land; as, an open harbor or roadstead.

Through the gate, Wide open and unquarded, Satan passed. --Milton

Note: Also, figuratively, used of the ways of communication of the mind, as by the senses; ready to hear, see, etc.; as, to keep one's eyes and ears open.

His ears are open unto their cry. --Ps. xxxiv. 15.

2. Free to be used, enjoyed, visited, or the like; not private; public; unrestricted in use; as, an open library, museum, court, or other assembly; liable to the approach, trespass, or attack of any one; unprotected; exposed.

If Demetrius . . . have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. --Acts xix. 33.

The service that I truly did his life, Hath left me open to all injuries. --Shak.

3. Free or cleared of obstruction to progress or to view; accessible; as, an open tract; the open sea.

4. Not drawn together, closed, or contracted; extended; expanded; as, an open hand; open arms; an open flower; an open prospect.

Each, with open arms, embraced her chosen knight. --Dryden.

5. Hence: (a) Without reserve or false pretense; sincere; characterized by sincerity; unfeigned; frank; also, generous; liberal; bounteous; -- applied to personal appearance, or character, and to the expression of thought and feeling, etc.

With aspect open, shall erect his head. --Pope.

The Moor is of a free and open nature. --Shak.

The French are always open, familiar, and talkative. --Addison. (b) Not concealed or secret; not hidden or disguised; exposed to view or to knowledge; revealed; apparent; as, open schemes or plans; open shame or guilt.

His thefts are too open. --Shak.

That I may find him, and with secret gaze Or open admiration him behold. --Milton.

6. Not of a quality to prevent communication, as by closing water ways, blocking roads, etc.; hence, not frosty or inclement; mild; -- used of the weather or the climate; as, an open season; an open winter. --Bacon.

7. Not settled or adjusted; not decided or determined; not closed or withdrawn from consideration; as, an open account; an open question; to keep an offer or opportunity open.

8. Free; disengaged; unappropriated; as, to keep a day open for any purpose; to be open for an engagement.

9. (Phon.) (a) Uttered with a relatively wide opening of the articulating organs; -- said of vowels; as, the ["a]n f["a]r is open as compared with the [=a] in s[=a]y. (b) Uttered, as a consonant, with the oral passage simply narrowed without closure, as in uttering s.

10. (Mus.) (a) Not closed or stopped with the finger; -- said of the string of an instrument, as of a violin, when it is allowed to vibrate throughout its whole length. (b) Produced by an open string; as, an open tone.

The open air, the air out of doors.

Open chain. (Chem.) See Closed chain, under Chain.

Open circuit (Elec.), a conducting circuit which is incomplete, or interrupted at some point; -- opposed to an uninterrupted, or closed circuit.

Open communion, communion in the Lord's supper not restricted to persons who have been baptized by immersion. Cf. Close communion, under Close, a.

Open diapason (Mus.), a certain stop in an organ, in which the pipes or tubes are formed like the mouthpiece of a flageolet at the end where the wind enters, and are open at the other end.

Open flank (Fort.), the part of the flank covered by the orillon.

Open-front furnace (Metal.), a blast furnace having a forehearth.

Open harmony (Mus.), harmony the tones of which are widely dispersed, or separated by wide intervals.

Open hawse (Naut.), a hawse in which the cables are parallel or slightly divergent. Cf. Foul hawse, under Hawse.

Open hearth (Metal.), the shallow hearth of a reverberatory furnace.

Open-hearth furnace, a reverberatory furnace; esp., a kind of reverberatory furnace in which the fuel is gas, used in manufacturing steel.

Open-hearth process (Steel Manuf.), a process by which melted cast iron is converted into steel by the addition of wrought iron, or iron ore and manganese, and by exposure to heat in an open-hearth furnace; -- also called the Siemens-Martin process, from the inventors.

Open-hearth steel, steel made by an open-hearth process; -- also called Siemens-Martin steel.

Open newel. (Arch.) See Hollow newel, under Hollow.

Open pipe (Mus.), a pipe open at the top. It has a pitch about an octave higher than a closed pipe of the same length.

Open-timber roof (Arch.), a roof of which the constructional parts, together with the under side of the covering, or its lining, are treated ornamentally, and left to form the ceiling of an apartment below, as in a church, a public hall, and the like.

Open vowel or consonant. See Open, a., 9.

Note: Open is used in many compounds, most of which are self-explaining; as, open-breasted, open-minded.

Syn: Unclosed; uncovered; unprotected; exposed; plain; apparent; obvious; evident; public; unreserved; frank; sincere; undissembling; artless. See Candid, and Ingenuous.

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