In-gēn'ū-oŭs, a.
(in-jĕn'/yŭ-us), a. [Lat. ingenuus, inborn, innate, free-born, noble, frank, from ingenere, ingignere; It. & Sp. ingenuo, Fr. ingénu. See INGENITE.]
- Of honorable extraction; free-born; as, ingenuous blood or birth.
- Noble; generous; as, an ingenuous ardor or zeal. “An ingenuous detestation of falsehood.” Locke.
- Free from reserve, disguise, equivocation, or dissimulation; open; frank; generous; as, an ingenuous man, declaration, confession, and the like.
Sensible in myself what a burden it is for me, who would be ingenuous, to be loaded with courtesies which he hath not the least hope to requite or deserve. Fuller. Syn.—Open; frank; unreserved; artless; plain; sincere; candid; fair; noble; generous.—INGENUOUS, OPEN, FRANK. One who is open speaks out at once what is uppermost in his mind; one who is frank does it from a natural boldness, or dislike of self-restraint; one who is ingenuous is actuated by a noble candor and love of truth, which makes him willing to confess his faults, and make known all his sentiments without reserve. “A frank man is not frank to all, nor on all occasions; he is frank to his friends, or he is frank in his dealings with others; but the open man lets himself out like a running stream to all who choose to listen, and communicates trivial or important matters with equal eagerness.” Crabb. “If an ingenuous detestation of falsehood be but carefully and early instilled, that is the true and genuine method to obviate dishonesty.” Locke.