Langimage
English

shrewdness

|shrewd-ness|

B2

/ˈʃruːdnəs/

(shrewd)

sharp judgment

Base FormComparativeSuperlativeNoun
shrewdshrewdershrewdestshrewdness
Etymology
Etymology Information

'shrewd' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'schrewed,' where 'schrew' meant 'wicked or evil.'

Historical Evolution

'schrewed' changed from the Old English word 'scrēawa' and eventually became the modern English word 'shrewd.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'wicked or evil,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having good judgment.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

the quality of having or showing good judgment and common sense.

Her shrewdness in business negotiations saved the company a lot of money.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41