(Formerly) printers did not discriminate between . . . ingenuous and
ingenious, and these words were used or rather printed interchangeably
almost to the beginning of the eighteenth century. G. P. Marsh.
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 native simplicity and artlessness, which make him willing
to confess faults, and make known his sentiments without reserve. See
Candid.
In*gen"u*ous*ly, adv. In an ingenuous manner; openly; fairly; candidly;
artlessly.
Being required to explain himself, he ingenuously confessed.
Ludlow.
In*gen"u*ous*ness, n. 1. The state or quality of being ingenuous;
openness of heart; frankness.