different between forthright vs shrewd

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English forþright, forþri?t, forþriht, from Old English forþriht (“direct, plain”); equivalent to forth +? right.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?f?????a?t/

Adjective

forthright (comparative more forthright, superlative most forthright)

1. Straightforward; not evasive; candid and direct.

2. Frank, outspoken.
3. Markedly simple.
4. Fixed; settled; decided.
5. (archaic) Proceeding straight forth.

Derived terms

• forthrightly
• forthrightness
• unforthright

Translations

Noun

forthright (plural forthrights)

1. (archaic) A straight path.
   • c. 1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act III scene iii^[1]:

     Gonzalo: […] Here's a maze trod indeed / Through forth-rights and meanders !

Etymology 2

From Middle English forthright, forþri?t, forthricte, from Old English forþrihte (“straightway, at once, plainly”), from forþriht +? -e (“adverbial suffix”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /f?????a?t/

Adverb

forthright (comparative more forthright, superlative most forthright)

1. Expressly, frankly, unhesitatingly.
2. At once, forthwith.
3. Swiftly.
4. (archaic) Straight forward, in a straight direction.

References

• “forthright”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “forthright”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Alternative forms

• shrewde (obsolete)

Etymology

c. 1300, Middle English schrewed (“depraved; wicked”, literally “accursed”), from schrewen (“to curse; beshrew”), from schrewe, schrowe, screwe (“evil or wicked person/thing”), from Old English scr?awa (“wicked person”, literally “biter”). Equivalent to shrew +? -ed. More at shrew.

The sense of "cunning" developed in early 16^th c., gradually gaining a positive connotation by 17^th c.

Pronunciation

• enPR: shro?od, IPA^(key): /??u?d/

• Rhymes: -u?d

Adjective

shrewd (comparative shrewder, superlative shrewdest)

1. Showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters.
2. Artful, tricky or cunning.
3. (informal) Streetwise, street-smart.
4. Knowledgeable, intelligent, keen.
5. Nigh accurate.

6. Severe, intense, hard.

7. Sharp, snithy, piercing.

8. (archaic) Bad, evil, threatening.
   • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act III Scene ii:

     Portia:

     There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper,

     That steals the colours from Bassanio's cheek:

     Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world

     Could turn so much the constitution

     Of any constant man. What, worse and worse!— […]

9. (obsolete) Portending, boding.
10. (archaic) Noxious, scatheful, mischievous.
11. (obsolete) Abusive, shrewish.
12. (archaic) Scolding, satirical, sharp.
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act II Scene i:

      Leonato: By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.

Derived terms

• shrewdly
• shrewdness

Translations