They don't sound alike? Wow, have I been pronouncing them incorrectly the entire time? Or perhaps it's a dialect difference? I've certainly always pronounced "ingenious" (not to be confused with "ingenuous", of course) pretty much exactly the way I pronounce "genius", except with an "in-" at the beginning.
If you pronounce them correctly, they don't sound alike, either.
Ingenious: "intellectual, talented," from M.Fr. ingénieux "clever, ingenious" (O.Fr. engeignos), from L. ingeniosus "of good capacity, gifted with genius," from ingenium "innate qualities, ability," lit. "that which is inborn," from in- "in" + gignere, from PIE *gen- "produce." Sense of "skillful, clever" first recorded 1548
Genius: from L. genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE base *gen- "produce." Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" first recorded 1649.
The simple answer is that there isn't really a question. If you check the etymology of the two words, you'll find that they don't in fact share a common root as you seem to assume.
The word "ingenuous" is not pronounced the same as "ingenious," nor does it share the same meaning.
Ingenuous (in one meaning an obsolete form of "ingenious") has a second meaning referring to innocence, child-like simplicity, demonstrating a lack of subtlety. Pronouced in-jehn-you-us.
Ingenious is the adjective noting aptitude or demonstration of genius. Pronounced in-jeen-yus or in-jean-yuhs.
It gets even more complicated (sticky in both root and meaning) when you throw "ingenuous" into the mix; an example of language as some sort of devil's whore and complicated to teach. Different roots all.
But (the inimitable) languagehat addresses this by way of OED cut/paste here:
Dan--
They don't sound alike? Wow, have I been pronouncing them incorrectly the entire time? Or perhaps it's a dialect difference? I've certainly always pronounced "ingenious" (not to be confused with "ingenuous", of course) pretty much exactly the way I pronounce "genius", except with an "in-" at the beginning.
Avrom Mar-23-2006
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"genius" is a noun.
"ingenious" is an adjective.
"-ous" is an English adjective ending; "-us" is a noun ending originating from Latin.
Consider the difference between "callus" and "callous".
bubbha Mar-22-2006
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Gee, I checked and they DO share a common root.
anonymous4 Mar-16-2006
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If you pronounce them correctly, they don't sound alike, either.
Ingenious: "intellectual, talented," from M.Fr. ingénieux "clever, ingenious" (O.Fr. engeignos), from L. ingeniosus "of good capacity, gifted with genius," from ingenium "innate qualities, ability," lit. "that which is inborn," from in- "in" + gignere, from PIE *gen- "produce." Sense of "skillful, clever" first recorded 1548
Genius: from L. genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE base *gen- "produce." Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" first recorded 1649.
dan1 Mar-16-2006
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The simple answer is that there isn't really a question. If you check the etymology of the two words, you'll find that they don't in fact share a common root as you seem to assume.
Nicholas_Sanders Mar-13-2006
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You know what, Avrom? I was thinking the same thing.
Isabella1 Mar-23-2006
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Bryan--
The word "ingenuous" is not pronounced the same as "ingenious," nor does it share the same meaning.
Ingenuous (in one meaning an obsolete form of "ingenious") has a second meaning referring to innocence, child-like simplicity, demonstrating a lack of subtlety. Pronouced in-jehn-you-us.
Ingenious is the adjective noting aptitude or demonstration of genius. Pronounced in-jeen-yus or in-jean-yuhs.
Similar roots, but different meanings!
Elizabeth2 Jul-29-2008
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It gets even more complicated (sticky in both root and meaning) when you throw "ingenuous" into the mix; an example of language as some sort of devil's whore and complicated to teach. Different roots all.
But (the inimitable) languagehat addresses this by way of OED cut/paste here:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1661/01/30/#11104
gaunt Mar-17-2006
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Thanks! There's less confusion now!
Isabells Mar-22-2006
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Avrom, Iisabella, the dictionary backs you up. They are pronounced the same.
porsche Mar-25-2006
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Yes, I tried the dictionary and listened to its pronounciations earlier: they are the same in the last syllable.
Isabella1 Mar-28-2006
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I suppose you could pronounce them
ingenious - 'in-jenn-you-us'
genius - 'jean-you-us'
But that would depend upon if you were pro-Jenn, or pro-Jean. (joke)
Bryan1 Apr-20-2006
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Where I come from, genius has two syllables, and ingenious has four. Gen-ius, in-gen-i-ous.
S_Onosson May-18-2006
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