/ ˈkʌnɪŋ; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
( disapproving ) able to get what you want in a clever way, especially by tricking or cheating sb
SYN crafty , wily :
a cunning liar
He was as cunning as a fox.
2.
clever and skilful
SYN ingenious :
It was a cunning piece of detective work.
► cun·ning·ly adverb :
The microphone was cunningly concealed in the bookcase.
■ noun
[ U ] the ability to achieve sth by tricking or cheating other people in a clever way
SYN craftiness :
It took energy and cunning just to survive.
She used low cunning (= dishonest behaviour) to get what she wanted.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : perhaps from Old Norse kunnandi knowledge, from kunna know (related to can I . ), or perhaps from Middle English cunne , an obsolete variant of can I . . The original sense was (possessing) great academic knowledge or skill and had no implication of deceit; the sense deceitfulness dates from late Middle English .