different between mischievous vs cunning
mischievous
English
Alternative forms
- mischievious, mischevious (nonstandard forms)
Etymology
From Middle English myschevous, mischevous, from Anglo-Norman meschevous, from Old French meschever, from mes- (“mis-”) + chever (“come to an end”) (from chef (“head”)). Synchronically analyzable as mischief +? -ous.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?m?s.t???.v?s/, /?m?s.t???.v?s/
- (nonstandard) /m?s.?t??i?.vi.?s/ (often along with the nonstandard spelling misch(i)evious)
- (dated) /m?s.?t??i?.v?s/
Adjective
mischievous (comparative more mischievous, superlative most mischievous)
- Causing mischief; injurious.
- Troublesome, cheeky, badly behaved.
- Matthew had a twin brother called Edward, who was always mischievous and badly behaved.
Usage notes
The spelling "misch(i)evious" and similar ones can be found since the 16th century, so the corresponding pronunciation is at least as old. But despite being common in a wide range of social classes today, these spellings and the corresponding pronunciation are still considered nonstandard and often viewed as incorrect.
Synonyms
- (causing mischief): harmful, hurtful, detrimental, noxious, pernicious, destructive; see also Thesaurus:harmful
- (badly-behaved): badly-behaved, naughty
Derived terms
- mischievously
- mischievousness
Translations
Further reading
- mischievous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- mischievous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
- mischievous at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams
- mischevious
mischievous From the web:
- what mischievous mean
- what's mischievous mean in spanish
- mischievous meaning arabic
- mischievous meaning in tagalog
- what's mischievous in welsh
- what's mischievous in asl
- mischievous what does it means
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cunning
English
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -?n??
- IPA(key): /?k?n??/
Etymology 1
From Middle English cunning, kunning, konnyng, alteration of earlier Middle English cunninde, kunnende, cunnand, from Old English cunnende, present participle of cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”), equivalent to con +? -ing. Cognate with Scots cunnand (“cunning”), German könnend (“able to do”), Icelandic kunnandi (“cunning”). More at con, can.
Adjective
cunning (comparative more cunning, superlative most cunning)
- Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
- They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being sincere.
- (obsolete) Skillful, artful.
- Esau was a cunning hunter.
- a cunning workman
- (obsolete) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
- cunning work
- (US, colloquial, dated, New England) Cute, appealing.
- a cunning little boy
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Bartlett to this entry?)
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:wily
Translations
Etymology 2
From Middle English cunning, kunnyng, partially from Old English *cunning (verbal noun), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”); partially from Old English cunnung (“knowledge, trial, probation, experience, contact, carnal knowledge”), from cunnian (“to search into, try, test, seek for, explore, investigate, experience, have experience of, to make trial of, know”), equivalent to con +? -ing.
Noun
cunning (countable and uncountable, plural cunnings)
- Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
- 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 236d.
- indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate.
- 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 236d.
- Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit; art or magic.
- c. 1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act III scene ii[1]:
- Caliban: As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.
- c. 1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act III scene ii[1]:
- The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
- The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
- the cunning of the fox or hare
- (obsolete) Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).
Synonyms
- craftiness
- foxship
- list
Translations
cunning From the web:
- what cunning means
- what cunning plan backfires for nicholas
- what's cunning linguist
- what's cunning man
- cunningham meaning
- what's cunning in german
- what cunningly devised fables
- cunningness meaning
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