Word of the Day for Monday, November 7, 2011
canny \KAN-ee\, adjective:
1. Careful; cautious; prudent.
2. Astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious.
3. Skilled; expert.
4. Frugal; thrifty.
5. Scot. A. Safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative). B. Gentle; careful; steady. C. Snug; cozy; comfortable. D. Pleasing; attractive. E. Archaic. Having supernatural or occult powers.
2. Astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious.
3. Skilled; expert.
4. Frugal; thrifty.
5. Scot. A. Safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative). B. Gentle; careful; steady. C. Snug; cozy; comfortable. D. Pleasing; attractive. E. Archaic. Having supernatural or occult powers.
adverb:
1. In a canny manner.
2. Scot. Carefully; cautiously.
1. In a canny manner.
2. Scot. Carefully; cautiously.
But they're not going to catch us that easily. If they're canny, we can be canny too!
-- Hans Fallada, Every Man Dies Alone
-- Hans Fallada, Every Man Dies Alone
Some of the little contrivances, which he thought so canny, left her doubtful.
-- D.H. Lawrence, The Rainbow
-- D.H. Lawrence, The Rainbow
Canny is derived from the Middle English word ken meaning “knowledge or understanding.” It is related to the verb kennen meaning “to see, know, or make known.”
With thanks to: http://www.dictionary.com/
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