Ingenious (?), 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.
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A man . . . very wise and ingenious in feats of war. Hakluyt.
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Thou, king, send out
For torturers ingenious. Shak.
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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.
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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.]
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A course of learning and ingenious studies. Shak.
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