Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

shrewdness

 - 3 dictionary results

shrewd

  [shrood]
Use shrewdness in a Sentence
–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 )

Related forms:
shrewdly, adverb
shrewdness, noun

Synonyms:
1. quick, discerning, perceptive, perspicacious, sagacious, keen; discriminating, intelligent. See acute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shrewdness
shrewd·ness   (shrōōd'nĭs)   
n.  

  1. The quality of being shrewd.

  2. An aggregation of apes. See Synonyms at flock1.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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
Cite This Source
Search another word or see shrewdness on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way