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Shrewder

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shrewd

[shrood]
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. astute or sharp in practical matters: a shrewd politician.
2. keen; piercing.
3. artful.
4. Archaic. malicious.
5. Obsolete. bad.
6. Obsolete. shrewish.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME shrewed, in part repr. shrew 1 + -ed 3 (cf. dogged, wicked ); in part prob. ptp. of shrewen to curse, v. use of shrew 1 (see -ed 2 )


shrewdly, adverb
shrewdness, noun


1. quick, discerning, perceptive, perspicacious, sagacious, keen; discriminating, intelligent. See acute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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shrewd   (shrōōd)   
adj.   shrewd·er, shrewd·est
  1. Characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical.

  2. Disposed to artful and cunning practices; tricky.

  3. Sharp; penetrating: a shrewd wind.


[Middle English shrewed, wicked, from shrew, rascal; see shrew.]
shrewd'ly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean having or showing keen awareness, sound judgment, and often resourcefulness, especially in practical matters. Shrewd suggests a sharp intelligence, hardheadness, and often an intuitive grasp of practical considerations: "He was too shrewd to go along with them upon a road which could lead only to their overthrow" (J.A. Froude).
Sagacious connotes prudence, discernment, and farsightedness: "He was observant and thoughtful, and given to asking sagacious questions" (John Galt).
Astute suggests shrewdness, especially with regard to one's own interests: An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease.
Perspicacious implies penetration and clear-sightedness: She is much too perspicacious to be taken in by such a spurious argument. See Also Synonyms at clever.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

shrewd 
c.1300, "wicked, evil," from shrewe "wicked man" (see shrew). Cf. crabbed from crab, dogged from dog, wicked from witch. The sense of "cunning" is first recorded 1520.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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