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shrewd

Syllabification: (shrewd)

Pronunciation: /SHro͞od/

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Definition of shrewd

adjective

1having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute:she was shrewd enough to guess the motive behind his gesture a shrewd career move

2 archaic (especially of weather) piercingly cold:a shrewd east wind
(of a blow) severe:a bayonet’s shrewd thrust
mischievous; malicious.

Derivatives

shrewdly
shrewdness

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'evil in nature or character'): from shrew in the sense 'evil person or thing', or as the past participle of obsolete shrew 'to curse.' The word developed the sense 'cunning', and gradually gained a favorable connotation during the 17th century

shrewd in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of shrewd in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

shrewd

adjective

Derivatives

shrewdly

shrewdness

Origin:

shrewd in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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