The stings and remorses of natural ingenuity, a principle that men
scarcely ever shake off, as long as they carry anything of human
nature about them.
South.
Syn. -- Inventiveness; ingeniousness; skill; cunning; cleverness;
genius. -- Ingenuity, Cleverness. Ingenuity is a form of genius, and
cleverness of talent. The former implies invention, the letter a
peculiar dexterity and readiness of execution. Sir James Mackintosh
remarks that the English overdo in the use of the word clever and
cleverness, applying them loosely to almost every form of intellectual
ability.
In*gen"u*ous (?), a. [L. ingenuus inborn, innate, freeborn, noble,
frank; pref. in- in + the root of gignere to beget. See Genius, and
cf. Ingenious.] 1. Of honorable extraction; freeborn; noble; as,
ingenuous blood of birth.
2. Noble; generous; magnanimous; honorable; upright; high-minded; as,
an ingenuous ardor or zeal.
If an ingenuous detestation of falsehood be but carefully and early
instilled, that is the true and genuine method to obviate
dishonesty.
Locke.
3. Free from reserve, disguise, equivocation, or dissimulation; open;
frank; as, an ingenuous man; an ingenuous declaration, confession, etc.
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.