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ingénue

[an-zhuh-noo, -nyoo; Fr. an-zhey-ny]

noun, plural in·gé·nues

[-nooz, -nyooz; Fr. -ny] .

the part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman, especially as represented on the stage.

an actress who plays such a part or specializes in playing such parts.

Also, in·ge·nue.

Origin:
1840–50; < French, feminine of ingénu < Latin ingenuus native, inborn, etc.; see ingenuous

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Ingénue is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

ingénue (ˌænʒeɪˈnjuː, French ɛ̃ʒeny)

—n
	an artless, innocent, or inexperienced girl or young woman

[C19: from French, feminine of ingénuingenuous]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Matching Quote

"To what good, in the alleys of the lilacs,
O caliper, do you scratch your buttocks
And tell the divine ingénue, your companion,
That this bloom is the bloom of soap
And this fragrance the fragrance of vegetal?"

-Wallace Stevens

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