ingenious, ingenuous, naïve
- ingenious, ingenuous, naïve
Ingenious means "inventive," "resourceful," "talented," "imaginative."
Ingenuous means "naïve," "frank," "unsophisticated," "artless." "Alex's suggested solution is
ingenious." "She is an
ingenuous little child." Naïve (correctly spelled with a dieresis over the
i but also considered correct without this mark or spelled
naif) has much the meaning of
ingenuous. It is applied to persons who reveal natural simplicity, artlessness, and innocence. Naïve usually suggests traits that are amusing to the user of the word but not to the person so described. Probably no one would like to be Diane in a statement such as "Diane is so naïve she believes everything her boyfriend tells her."
See also unsophisticated.
Dictionary of problem words and expressions.
Harry Shaw.
1975.
Look at other dictionaries:
ingenuous — See ingenious, ingenuous, naïve … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
ingenious — See ingenious, ingenuous, naïve … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
naïve — See ingenious, ingenuous, naïve … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
ingenuous — ingenuously, adv. ingenuousness, n. /in jen yooh euhs/, adj. 1. free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation; candid; sincere. 2. artless; innocent; naive. 3. Obs. honorable or noble. [1590 1600; < L ingenuus native, free born, honorable, frank … Universalium
ingenuous — in•gen•u•ous [[t]ɪnˈdʒɛn yu əs[/t]] adj. 1) free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation 2) artless; innocent; naive 3) Obs. honorable or noble • Etymology: 1590–1600; < L ingenuus native, honorable, frank in•gen′u•ous•ly, adv.… … From formal English to slang
artful — [adj] skillful; cunning adept, adroit, clever, crafty, designing, dexterous, foxy*, ingenious, masterly, politic, proficient, resourceful, scheming, sharp, shrewd, slick*, sly, smart, smooth*, tricky, wily; concepts 404,528 Ant. artless,… … New thesaurus
in|gen´u|ous|ness — in|gen|u|ous «ihn JEHN yu uhs», adjective. 1. frank and open; free from restraint or reserve; sincere: »The boy gave an ingenuous account of his acts, concealing nothing. SYNONYM(S): candid, straightforward. 2. simple and natural; innocent: »an… … Useful english dictionary
in|gen´u|ous|ly — in|gen|u|ous «ihn JEHN yu uhs», adjective. 1. frank and open; free from restraint or reserve; sincere: »The boy gave an ingenuous account of his acts, concealing nothing. SYNONYM(S): candid, straightforward. 2. simple and natural; innocent: »an… … Useful english dictionary
in|gen|u|ous — «ihn JEHN yu uhs», adjective. 1. frank and open; free from restraint or reserve; sincere: »The boy gave an ingenuous account of his acts, concealing nothing. SYNONYM(S): candid, straightforward. 2. simple and natural; innocent: »an ingenuous… … Useful english dictionary
genə- — Also gen . To give birth, beget; with derivatives referring to aspects and results of procreation and to familial and tribal groups. Oldest form *g̑enə₁ , becoming *genə₁ in centum languages. Derivatives include kin, king, jaunty, genius,… … Universalium
