— ingeniously , adv. — ingeniousness , n.
/in jeen"yeuhs/ , adj.
1. characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction: an ingenious machine.
2. cleverly inventive or resourceful: an ingenious press agent.
3. Obs.
a. intelligent; showing genius.
b. ingenuous.
[ 1375-1425; late ME ingeniosus, equiv. to ingeni ( um ) natural disposition, cleverness ( in- IN- 2 + gen- (base of gignere to bring into being; cf. GENITOR) + -ium -IUM) + -osus -OUS ]
Syn. 2. bright, gifted, able, resourceful; adroit.
Ant. 2. unskillful.
Usage . 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.