[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/cunning/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / cunning # cunning adjective (cunning, more cunning); noun (cunning — uncountable) «cunning» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Cunning means clever at tricking people or getting what you want, often in a sly or dishonest way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#m1) 2. A cunning plan or idea is clever and well thought out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#m2) 3. Cunning (noun) is the skill of tricking or deceiving people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#m3) 4. (US, old informal) Cunning can mean cute: a cunning little puppy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#m4) ### In the lessons In fairy tales and fables, the fox is cunning (it tricks the crow into dropping the cheese). In stories it can be a warning sign about a character or praise for a clever hero. Phrases: «a cunning plan», «as cunning as a fox», «use cunning». ### Examples - The cunning fox tricked the crow into dropping her cheese. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x1) - I have a cunning plan to win the treasure hunt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x2) - The thief used cunning to get past the guards. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x3) - Odysseus was famous for his cunning in the Trojan horse story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x4) - The cunning cat waited until we left the kitchen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x5) - Scammers can be very cunning, so never share your password. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x6) - Common sense is always worth more than cunning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/#x7) ### Note Uncountable as a noun. Similar: sly, crafty, wily, clever. «Cunning» is not always bad: a hero can have a cunning plan. ## In Jewish tradition Here it means skilled, a clever and expert hunter, not a sly cheat. Elsewhere it means skill in a craft, as in a hand's cunning, and also clever skill in magic, such as charmers and spell-binders. **Interpretation.** Some commentators read Esau's cunning as skill in tricking, including tricking his father. Others read it only as hunting skill, in contrast to Jacob the quiet tent-dweller. In Psalm 137 the exile's vow not to forget Jerusalem is read as loyalty even if it costs his best skill. ### Examples - And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. (Torah GEN.25.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/cunning/#x1) - If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. (Writings PSA.137.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/cunning/#x2) - Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, or of the most cunning binder of spells. (Writings PSA.58.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/cunning/#x3) - The captain of fifty, and the man of rank, and the counsellor, and the cunning charmer, and the skilful enchanter. (Prophets ISA.3.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/cunning/#x4) ### Note Uncountable as a noun. Similar: sly, crafty, wily, clever. «Cunning» is not always bad: a hero can have a cunning plan. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning Clever with the hands or mind, or clever at tricking people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/cunning/#m1) ### Then and now Today it means sly or tricky. In the first sentence it means skilful at hunting, which is the old sense. ### Examples - And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. (Torah GEN.25.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/cunning/#x1) - “He is very old and very cunning. (The Jungle Book) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/cunning/#x2) - Then he tried to get out by cunning. (The Arabian Nights Entertainments) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/cunning/#x3) ### Note Today: skilful, clever, sly. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «cunning» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cunning/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«cunning» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cunning.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «cunning» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/cunning/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«cunning» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/cunning.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «cunning» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/cunning/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«cunning» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/cunning.html) on Mova free.