Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
ingenious - 4 dictionary results
Engenius Phones & Parts.
Durafon's and All Accessories Call Toll Free 1-866-387-2988 Now!
www.EnGeniusParts.com/EnGenius
Durafon's and All Accessories Call Toll Free 1-866-387-2988 Now!
www.EnGeniusParts.com/EnGenius
in⋅gen⋅ious
[in-jeen-yuh
s] 
–adjective
| 1. | characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction: an ingenious machine. |
| 2. | cleverly inventive or resourceful: an ingenious press agent. |
| 3. | Obsolete.
|
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L ingeniōsus, equiv. to ingeni(um) natural disposition, cleverness (in- in- 2 + gen- (base of gignere to bring into being; cf. genitor ) + -ium -ium ) + -ōsus -ous
1375–1425; late ME < L ingeniōsus, equiv. to ingeni(um) natural disposition, cleverness (in- in- 2 + gen- (base of gignere to bring into being; cf. genitor ) + -ium -ium ) + -ōsus -ous
Related forms:
in⋅gen⋅ious⋅ly, adverb
in⋅gen⋅ious⋅ness, noun
Synonyms:
2. bright, gifted, able, resourceful; adroit.
2. bright, gifted, able, resourceful; adroit.
Antonyms:
2. unskillful.
2. unskillful.
Usage note:
Ingenious and ingenuous are now distinct from each other and are not synonyms. Ingenious means “characterized by cleverness” or “cleverly inventive,” as in contriving new explanations or methods: an ingenious device; ingenious designers. Ingenuous means “candid” or “innocent”: an ingenuous and sincere statement; a thug with the ingenuous eyes of a choirboy.
Ingenious and ingenuous are now distinct from each other and are not synonyms. Ingenious means “characterized by cleverness” or “cleverly inventive,” as in contriving new explanations or methods: an ingenious device; ingenious designers. Ingenuous means “candid” or “innocent”: an ingenuous and sincere statement; a thug with the ingenuous eyes of a choirboy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To ingenious
| in·gen·ious (ĭn-jēn'yəs) adj.
[Middle English, from Old French ingenios, from Latin ingeniōsus, from ingenium, inborn talent; see genə- in Indo-European roots.] in·gen'ious·ly adv., in·gen'ious·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Ingenious
In*gen"ious\, a. [L. ingeniosus, fr. ingenium innate or natural quality, natural capacity, genius: cf. F. ing['e]nieux. 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. --Shak. The more ingenious men are, the more apt are they to trouble themselves. --Sir W. Temple. 2. Proseeding 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. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : ingenious
Spanish:
ingenioso,
German:
erfinderisch,
Japanese:
巧みな
ingenious
1483, "intellectual, talented," from M.Fr. ingénieux "clever, ingenious" (O.Fr. engeignos), from L. ingeniosus "of good capacity, gifted with genius," from ingenium "innate qualities, ability," lit. "that which is inborn," from in- "in" + gignere, from PIE *gen- "produce." Sense of "skillful, clever" first recorded 1548.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
