— shrewdly , adv. — shrewdness , n.
/shroohd/ , adj., shrewder, shrewdest .
1. astute or sharp in practical matters: a shrewd politician.
2. keen; piercing.
3. artful.
4. Archaic. malicious.
5. Obs. bad.
6. Obs. shrewish.
[ 1275-1325; ME shrewed, in part repr. SHREW 1 + -ED 3 (cf. DOGGED, WICKED); in part prob. ptp. of shrewen to curse, v. use of SHREW 1 (see -ED 2 ) ]
Syn. 1. quick, discerning, perceptive, perspicacious, sagacious, keen; discriminating, intelligent. See acute .