Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN-GE'NI-OUS, a. [L. ingeniosus, from ingenium; in and genius, geno, gigno, to beget, Gr. γεινομαι.]

1. Possessed of genius, or the faculty of invention; hence, skillful or prompt to invent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to form new combinations of ideas; as, an ingenious author; an ingenious mechanic. The more ingenious men are, the more apt are they to trouble themselves. – Temple.
2. Proceeding from genius or ingenuity; of curious design, structure or mechanism; as, an ingenious performance of any kind; an ingenious scheme or plan; an ingenious model or machine; ingenious fabric; ingenious contrivance.
3. Witty; well formed; well adapted; as, an ingenious reply.
4. Mental; intellectual. [Not used.] Shak.