cun´ning|ly

cun´ning|ly
cun|ning «KUHN ihng», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. clever in deceiving; sly: »

a cunning fox. The cunning thief outwitted the police and got away.

 SYNONYM(S): crafty, artful, guileful. See syn. under sly. (Cf. ↑sly)
2. made, showing, or done with skill, knowledge, or cleverness: »

The old watch was a fine example of cunning workmanship.

SYNONYM(S): ingenious.
3. skillful; clever in doing: »

With cunning hand the sculptor shaped the little statue. Esau was a cunning hunter (Genesis 25:27).

 SYNONYM(S): expert.
4. Informal. pretty and dear; cute: »

Kittens and babies are cunning.

SYNONYM(S): attractive.
–n.
1. skillful or sly ways of getting what one needs or wants, or of escaping one's enemies: »

A fox has a great deal of cunning.

2. skill; cleverness: »

The old sculptor's hand never lost its cunning.

╂[Old English cunning < cunnan know (how). See related etym. at can1. (Cf. ↑can)]
–cun´ning|ly, adverb.
–cun´ning|ness, noun.
Synonym Study noun. 1 Cunning, craft mean skill in getting what one wants. Cunning suggests slyness and the use of clever tricks or false appearances to hide one's real purpose and get the better of others: »

He has the cunning of a cat with a mouse.

Craft suggests skill in deceiving others by making clever and artful plans and using underhand methods: »

His swindle was planned with deliberate craft.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • cun|ning — «KUHN ihng», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. clever in deceiving; sly: »a cunning fox. The cunning thief outwitted the police and got away. SYNONYM(S): crafty, artful, guileful. See syn. under sly. (Cf. ↑sly) 2. made, showing, or done with skill,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • cun´ning|ness — cun|ning «KUHN ihng», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. clever in deceiving; sly: »a cunning fox. The cunning thief outwitted the police and got away. SYNONYM(S): crafty, artful, guileful. See syn. under sly. (Cf. ↑sly) 2. made, showing, or done with… …   Useful english dictionary

  • cun — cun·de·a·mor; cun·dy; cun·ge·boi; cun·je·voi; cun·ni·lin·gu·ism; cun·ni·lin·gus; cun·ning·ham·ia; cun·ning·ly; cun·ning·ness; cun·nus; cun·yie; dra·cun·cu·li·a·sis; dra·cun·cu·lo·sis; fa·cun·di·ty; fe·cun·da·tive; fe·cun·da·to·ry; fe·cun·di·ty;… …   English syllables

  • ning — al·mo·ning; an·ti·skin·ning; aw·ning; bai·ning; bun·ning; cun·ning·ham·ia; cun·ning·ly; cun·ning·ness; eve·ning; grin·ning·ly; gro·ning·en; ka·mu·ning; nan·ning; ning·po; pin·ning; pun·ning·ly; run·ning·ly; sin·ning·ly; sin·ning·ness; stun·ning;… …   English syllables

  • Ning Baizura — Background information Birth name Ning Baizura binti Sheikh Hamzah Born June 28, 1975 (1 …   Wikipedia

  • cunning — cun·ning …   English syllables

  • cunningly — cun·ning·ly …   English syllables

  • cunning — cun•ning [[t]ˈkʌn ɪŋ[/t]] n. 1) skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving; craftiness; guile 2) adeptness in performance; dexterity: The weaver s hand lost its cunning[/ex] 3) showing or made with ingenuity 4) artfully subtle or… …   From formal English to slang

  • cunning — cun|ning1 [ kʌnıŋ ] adjective 1. ) someone who is cunning uses their intelligence to get what they want, especially by tricking or cheating people: a cunning and resourceful criminal a ) used about people s behavior, actions, or ideas: a cunning… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Cunningham,Merce — Cun·ning·ham (kŭnʹĭng hăm ), Merce. Born 1919. American dancer and choreographer of avant garde works, including Squaregame (1976). * * * …   Universalium

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