Ingenue Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ธ
ingenue
[หษชn.dสษ.nuห ]
Definitions
acting
An innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.
Synonyms
innocent, naive, unsophisticated.
Examples of usage
- She often played the ingenue in romantic comedies.
- The actress was typecast as the ingenue due to her youthful appearance.
Translations
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Origin of 'ingenue'
The word 'ingenue' originated in the 19th century from the French word 'ingรฉnu', meaning 'ingenuous' or 'innocent'. It was first used in the context of theater to describe a character type of a young, innocent woman. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass a broader meaning of a sweet and naive young woman, often portrayed in various forms of media.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #37,040, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
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- 37037 coffered
- 37038 monumentally
- 37039 dooming
- 37040 ingenue
- 37041 retrenching
- 37042 whelmed
- 37043 effluvium
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