[Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the
great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass
by. --Sir J.
Mandeville.
Every of this happy number That have endured shrewd
days and nights with us. --Shak.
2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch.
These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
--Shak.
3. Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business;
astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd
observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply.
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind
creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it.
--Secker.
Syn: Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious;
discerning; acute; penetrating.
Usage: {Shrewd}, {Sagacious}. One who is shrewd is keen to
detect errors, to penetrate disguises, to foresee and
guard against the selfishness of others. Shrewd is a
word of less dignity than sagacious, which implies a
comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas
shrewd does not. -- {Shrewd"ly}, adv. --
{Shrewd"ness}, n.