ingenue etymology

Etymology:

  • French, from Latin ingenuus ("innate, freeborn")
  • From in- ("in") + genus ("kind, family")

Meaning:

  • A young, innocent, and inexperienced person, especially a young woman
  • A person who is naive or gullible

Origin:

The term "ingenue" originated in the Roman Republic, where it referred to a freeborn child as opposed to a slave. It was later used in the Roman Empire to describe a young woman of high social status who had not yet married.

In the 18th century, the term began to be used in English theater to describe a young, naive female character who was often contrasted with more experienced and worldly characters. This usage continued into the 19th and 20th centuries, and the term "ingenue" became synonymous with a certain type of female character in fiction and popular culture.

ingenue relate terms

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  • ingenuous

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  • ingenious

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  • ingenue

    Etymology French from Latin ingenuus innate freeborn From in in genus ki

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  • trap

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  • replay

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  • player

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  • Croat

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  • actor

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  • character

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