nativus

innate, natural, not artificial

1 / 1

An inexperienced adult eagerly accepts an implausibly large wrapped prize from a slick salesperson, overly trusting expression.

adjective

naive

nye-EEV/naɪˈiːv/

Lacking experience or judgment about how the world works.

Etymology

naiveLatininnate, natural, not artificial

The ancestor nativus also underlies native. Its sense of being natural or unspoiled developed into being artless and unsophisticated, connecting innocence with a lack of worldly judgment.

Full entry

Related word entries

naive