| 释义 |
shrewdness|ˈʃruːdnɪs|
Forms: see shrewd a.; also 5 schredenes.
[f. shrewd a. + -ness.]
†1. Wickedness, depravity; evil disposition, ill nature; malignity; maliciousness. Obs.
c1315Shoreham vii. 376 He [sc. Lucifer] hys heaued of schrewednesse, As god hys cheaf of alle godnesse. c1384Chaucer H. Fame 1853 As gret a fame han shrewes..for shrewdenesse, As good folke han for godenesse. 1422Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. xl. 199 He passet in shrewetnesse and malice al the Paganesse and mysbelewynge men. c1450Godstow Reg. 646 That hys graunt shold not by ony shrewdnes be destroyde, he confirmyd hyt with hys seele. 1484Caxton Fables of Auian vi, The shrewdness and malyce of the dogge. 1533More Apol. xxxvi. Wks. 902/2, I purpose to purchace suche a proteccion for them, that I wyl leaue my selfe lesse then the fourth part, euen of shrewdnes rather then euer I wyl pay them. 1535Goodly Primer, Prime & Hours Ps. cxxv, Them that swerve from the right way unto shrewdness. 1540R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. (1541) 79 If the housbande were yll, yet oughtest thou to suffer hym, nor stryue with him by shrewdenes.
†b. An instance of this. Obs.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iv. pr. iv. (1868) 124 Þat þei (shrewes) ben constreyned by þre vnselynesses þat wolen and mowen and performen felonyes and shrewednesses. c1386― Pars. T. 442 In hire houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses. a1533Ld. Berners Gold Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) D, The shrewdenes and cruelties, that Domician did to the virgins Vestales.
†c. Naughtiness, mischievousness. Obs.
1567–9Harding in Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 344 They..be subiect to all shrewdnesse of the boies of the streets, who vse commonly to mocke and reuile them. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. 9 If they bee apt much before fiue yeeres of age, to learne shrewdnesse.
†d. A pretended term for a ‘company’ of apes.
a1452Termys of venery, &c. (Egerton MS. 1995) in J. Hodgkin Proper Terms (1909) 52 A Schrewdenys of Apys. 1486Bk. St. Albans f vi b, A Shrewdenes of Apis. [Hence in various later works.]
2. Sagacity or keenness of mental perception or discrimination; astuteness in practical affairs.
1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. ii. 69 Her Garboiles..Made out of her impatience: which not wanted Shrodenesse of policie to. 1676Ray Corr. (1848) 126 Shrewdness in inventing and discovering, is a particular gift of God. 1770Langhorne Plutarch, Agis ⁋10 With his shrewdness and capacity he had a proper mixture of spirit. 1816Scott Bl. Dwarf iv, Some..requested advice upon other matters, which he delivered with an oracular shrewdness. 1864Tennyson En. Ard. 250 Not being bred To barter, nor compensating the want by shrewdness. 1878Gladstone Prim. Homer 120 Natural shrewdness was the guide of the people in the business of exchanges. |