Shrewdness

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.

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  • shrewdness — UK US /ˈʃruːdnəs/ noun [U] ► the ability to judge people and situations well and make good decisions: »Her greatest asset may prove to be her shrewdness. ► good judgment or understanding: »Billboards are placed with pinpoint shrewdness. »It is a… …   Financial and business terms

  • shrewdness — index discretion (quality of being discreet), discrimination (good judgment), forethought, insight, perception, prudence, sagacity …   Law dictionary

  • shrewdness — n. 1) to display shrewdness 2) shrewdness at 3) the shrewdness to + inf. (she had the shrewdness to buy real estate when the market was depressed) * * * [ ʃruːdnɪs] to display shrewdness shrewdness at the shrewdness to + inf. (she had the… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • shrewdness — noun he was never known for his shrewdness, but we never thought he could be that stupid Syn: astuteness, sharp wittedness, acuteness, acumen, acuity, intelligence, cleverness, smartness, wit, canniness, common sense, discernment, insight,… …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • shrewdness — shrewd ► ADJECTIVE ▪ having or showing sharp powers of judgement; astute. DERIVATIVES shrewdly adverb shrewdness noun. ORIGIN originally in the sense «evil in nature or character»: from SHREW(Cf. ↑shrew) in the obsolete sense «evil person or… …   English terms dictionary

  • shrewdness — noun see shrewd …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • shrewdness — shrewd·ness (shro͞odʹnĭs) n. 1. The quality of being shrewd. 2. An aggregation of apes. See Synonyms at flock1. * * * …   Universalium

  • shrewdness — noun a) The quality of being shrewd. b) An invented collective name for a group of apes …   Wiktionary

  • shrewdness — Synonyms and related words: Italian hand, acumen, acuteness, animal cunning, art, artfulness, artifice, astuteness, cageyness, callidity, canniness, cleverness, craft, craftiness, cunning, cunningness, deviousness, discernment, discrimination,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • shrewdness — I (Roget s IV) n. Syn. astuteness, perspicacity, sharpness; see acumen , judgment 1 . II (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun Skill in perceiving, discriminating, or judging: acumen, astuteness, clear sightedness, discernment, discrimination, eye,… …   English dictionary for students

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