ʃru:d adj. 1 a
showing astute powers of
judgement;
clever and judicious (a shrewd
observer;
made a shrewd guess). b (of a
face etc.) shrewd-looking. 2
archaic a (of
pain,
cold, etc.)
sharp,
biting. b (of a blow,
thrust, etc.)
severe,
hard. c
mischievous;
malicious. øøshrewdly adv. shrewdness n. [ME, =
malignant, f.
SHREW in
sense 'evil
person or thing', or
past part. of obs. shrew to
curse, f. SHREW]