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.
[Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the
great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by.
Sir J. Mandeville.
Every of this happy number
That have endured shrewd days and nights with us.
Shak.
2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch.
These women are shrewd tempters with their
tongues.
Shak.
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.
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind
creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved
it.
Secker.
Syn. -- Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious;
discerning; acute; penetrating. -- 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.
-- Shrewd"ly, adv. --
Shrewd"ness, n.
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.
[Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the
great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by.
Sir J. Mandeville.
Every of this happy number
That have endured shrewd days and nights with us.
Shak.
2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch.
These women are shrewd tempters with their
tongues.
Shak.
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.
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind
creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved
it.
Secker.
Syn. -- Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious;
discerning; acute; penetrating. -- 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.
-- Shrewd"ly, adv. --
Shrewd"ness, n.
