[an-zhuh-noo, -nyoo; French an-zhey-ny]
- the part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman, especially as represented on the stage.
- an actress who plays such a part or specializes in playing such parts.
Origin of ingénue
1840–50; < French, feminine of ingénu < Latin ingenuus native, inborn, etc.; see ingenuous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ingenues
And sure, actresses and ingenues were getting excited about it after the huge gains.When Celebrities Like Mila Kunis Talk Stocks, It’s Time to Get Out of the Market
March 15, 2013
- an artless, innocent, or inexperienced girl or young woman
C19: from French, feminine of ingénu ingenuous
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for ingenues
1848, from French ingénue "artless girl, especially on the stage," fem. of ingénu "ingenuous, artless, simple" (13c.), from Latin ingenuus (see ingenuous). Italicized in English into 20c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper