Ingénue

Pronunciation: /ˌænʒəˈnuː/

Definitions of ingénue

noun a naive, innocent, or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film

Example Sentences

A1 The ingénue was a naive and innocent young woman in the play.

A2 The ingénue's character was portrayed as sweet and inexperienced.

B1 The ingénue's role in the movie was that of a charming and naive girl.

B2 The actress played the ingénue with a perfect balance of innocence and vulnerability.

C1 The ingénue captivated the audience with her portrayal of a complex and multi-dimensional character.

C2 The ingénue's performance was praised for its depth and emotional range.

Examples of ingénue in a Sentence

formal The young actress portrayed the role of the ingénue in the classic play.

informal She's always cast as the ingénue because of her innocent looks.

slang She's the new ingénue in town, everyone is talking about her.

figurative In a world full of cynics, she was seen as the ingénue with her optimistic outlook.

Grammatical Forms of ingénue

• past tense: ingénued
• plural: ingénues
• comparative: more ingénue
• superlative: most ingénue
• present tense: ingénues
• future tense: will ingénue
• perfect tense: have ingénue
• continuous tense: is ingénuening
• singular: ingénue
• positive degree: ingénue
• infinitive: to ingénue
• gerund: ingénuening
• participle: ingénuened

Origin and Evolution of ingénue

First Known Use: 1832 year

Language of Origin: French

Story behind the word: The word 'ingénue' originated in French, derived from the word 'ingénu' meaning 'ingenuous' or 'innocent'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in theater to describe a young, innocent, and naive female character, the term has evolved to also refer to a young actress playing such a role or any young woman who embodies innocence and naivety.