SHREWDEST
Adjective
shrewdest
superlative form of shrewd: most shrewd
Source: Wiktionary
SHREWD
Shrewd, a. [Compar. Shrewder; superl. Shrewdest.] Etym: [Originally
the p. p. of shrew, v.t.]
1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious;
malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair;
shrewish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[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.
– 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition