Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Ingenious

In·gen′ious (ĭn·jēn′yŭs; 277), a. [L. ingeniosus, fr. ingenium innate or natural quality, natural capacity, genius: cf. F. ingénieux. See Engine.] 1. Possessed of genius, or the faculty of invention; skillful or promp to invent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to form new combinations; as, an ingenious author, mechanic.

A man . . . very wise and ingenious in feats of war. Hakluyt.

Thou, king, send out For torturers ingenious. Shak.

The more ingenious men are, the more apt are they to trouble themselves. Sir W. Temple.

2. Proceeding from, pertaining to, or characterized by, genius or ingenuity; of curious design, structure, or mechanism; as, an ingenious model, or machine; an ingenious scheme, contrivance, etc.

Thus men go wrong with an ingenious skill. Cowper.

3. Witty; shrewd; adroit; keen; sagacious; as, an ingenious reply.

4. Mental; intellectual. [Obs.]

A course of learning and ingenious studies. Shak.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article.