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ingenious

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅gen⋅ious

  [in-jeen-yuhs]
–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.
a. intelligent; showing genius.
b. ingenuous.
Use ingenious in a Sentence
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

Related forms:
in⋅gen⋅ious⋅ly, adverb
in⋅gen⋅ious⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. bright, gifted, able, resourceful; adroit.

Antonyms:
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To ingenious
in·gen·ious   (ĭn-jēn'yəs)   
adj.  

  1. Marked by inventive skill and imagination.

  2. Having or arising from an inventive or cunning mind; clever: an ingenious scheme. See Synonyms at clever.

  3. Obsolete Having genius; brilliant.


[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.
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Word Origin & History

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
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