01 a. Possessed of genius, or the faculty of invention; skillful or promp to invent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to form new combinations;…
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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.
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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.
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3.
Witty; shrewd; adroit; keen; sagacious; as, an ingenious reply.
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4.
Mental; intellectual.[Obs.]“A course of learning and ingenious studies.” — Shak.