Lexic.us

Definition of Shrewd

1. Adjective. Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence. "He was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"

2. Adjective. Used of persons. "The most calculating and selfish men in the community"

Definition of Shrewd

1. a. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish.

Definition of Shrewd

1. Adjective. showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters ¹

2. Adjective. artful, tricky or cunning ¹

3. Adjective. streetwise ¹

4. Adjective. knowledgeable ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shrewd

1. having keen insight [adj SHREWDER, SHREWDEST] : SHREWDLY [adv]

Medical Definition of Shrewd

1. 1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish. "[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) Synonym: 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, Shrewd"ness. Origin: Originally the p. P. Of shrew, v.t. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shrewd

shreddy shredless shreds shreek shreeked shreeking shreeks shreik shreiked shreiking

shreiks shrew mole shreward shrewards shrewd (current term) shrewder shrewdest shrewdie shrewdies shrewdish

shrewdly shrewdness shrewdnesses shrewed shrewing shrewish shrewishly shrewishness shrewishnesses

Literary usage of Shrewd

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Punch by Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman (1888)
"Great Pan is dead I Той вее hie régime would no longer suit us, Are you a votary of hie P shrewd Shepherd. Sweet maiden, And he 's succeeded, so they say, ..."

2. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy (1917)
"... r^ sumed his seat by the fire, and proceeded to darn again. CHAPTER IX LOVE LEADS A shrewd MAN INTO STRATEGY ..."

3. The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracián y Morales, Joseph Jacobs (1892)
"Queen Isabella the Catholic knew well this rule of life, as well as all the others, and to a shrewd favour of this kind from her the Great Captain won his ..."

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