| 释义 |
ˈcunningness
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being cunning or knowing.
†1. Knowingness; skilfulness, skill, cleverness; something requiring skill; = cunning n. 2, 3, 4.
1375Barbour Bruce iii. 712 It wes gret cunnannes to kep Thar takill in-till sic A thrang. a1400Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867) 12 Worldely mene..þat castes þaire conaundenes..vn-to couetyse. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 121 Konyngnesse of þe leche. 1609Douland Ornith. Microl. 67 Thou..hast..in singing a graceful cunningnesse. 1755Connoisseur No. 70 ⁋10 For all your learning, and policy, and cunningness, and judgment.
2. Craftiness, slyness, artfulness; = cunning n. 5.
a1625Fletcher Woman's Prize iv. ii, Such a drench of balderdash, Such a strange carded cunningness. 1654Cokaine Dianea i. 69 With all candidnesse..or else with a cunningness. 1702W. J. Bruyn's Voy. Levant xl. 157 The Cunningness of Apes and Falcons. 1727in Bailey vol. II.; and in mod. Dicts. 1965Listener 18 Mar. 420/2 His work..lacks the nudging cunningness of some ‘art’ photographers. |