2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
[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.
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 -- {Shrewd"ly}, adv --
{Shrewd"ness}, n.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
shrewd
adj 1: marked by practical hardheaded intelligence; "a smart
businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small
print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with
them on a road that could lead only to their
overthrow" [syn: {astute}, {sharp}]
2: used of persons; "the most calculating and selfish men in
the community" [syn: {calculating}, {calculative}, {conniving},
{scheming}]
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