Definition/Meaning of cunning

• English - Adjective: cunning (comparative more cunning, superlative most cunning) Sly ; crafty ; clever in surreptitious behaviour. 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: They are resolved to be cunning ; let others run the hazard of being sincere. (obsolete) Skillful , artful . 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London:…
• English - Noun: cunning (countable and uncountable, plural cunnings) (countable, uncountable) Practical knowledge or experience ; aptitude in performance; skill , proficiency ; dexterity . 2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 236d: indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate. (countable, uncountable) Practical skill…
• English - Etymology: Etymology 1. From Middle English cunning , kunning , konnyng , alteration of earlier Middle English cunninde , kunnende , cunnand , from Old English cunnende , present participle of cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”), equivalent to con + -ing . Cognate with Scots cunnand (“cunning”), German könnend (“able to do”), Icelandic kunnandi (“cunning”). More at con, can . Etymology 2. From Middle…
• English - Pronunciation: IPA: /ˈkʌnɪŋ/ Rhymes: -ʌnɪŋ
• English - Synonyms: astute artful cautelous crafty devious diabolical foxlike foxy frood guileful shrewd slim sly subtle tricksy tricky vulpine wily craftiness foxship list abet art beguilement craft dodge foxiness guile slyness subtlety wile wiliness