Shrewd
/ʃruːd/noun
Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.
Did you know?The word 'shrewd' is believed to have originated from an Old English term meaning 'to know' or 'to have insight', linking it to ancient wisdom and cunning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skraiwō
“to cut or to shred, implying sharpness or cleverness.”
Old English
Anglo-Saxon
screawe
“a term used for 'shrew' or an animal with sharp senses, often used metaphorically for cunning.”
Middle English
Middle English
shrewd
“having a sharp, astute mind, often with a negative connotation of being crafty or sly.”
Modern English
English
shrewd
“a person characterized by sharp judgment, often used positively but can imply a certain deviousness.”