- Shrewdness
- Shrewd Shrewd, a. [Compar. {Shrewder}; superl. {Shrewdest}.]
[Originally the p. p. of shrew, v.t.]
1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence,
vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious;
rough; unfair; shrewish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
[Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by. --Sir J. Mandeville. [1913 Webster]
Every of this happy number That have endured shrewd days and nights with us. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch. [1913 Webster]
These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. [1913 Webster]
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. --Secker. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious; discerning; acute; penetrating.
Usage: {Shrewd}, {Sagacious}. One who is shrewd is keen to detect errors, to penetrate disguises, to foresee and guard against the selfishness of others. Shrewd is a word of less dignity than sagacious, which implies a comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas shrewd does not. [1913 Webster] -- {Shrewd"ly}, adv. -- {Shrewd"ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
