All 3 Uses of
cunning
in
Measure for Measure
- O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, With saints dost bait thy hook!†
Scene 2.2cunning = good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
- O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell The damned'st body to invest and cover In precise guards!†
Scene 3.1
- More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy: if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning I will lay myself in hazard.†
Scene 4.2 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(cunning as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) At one time, cunning was also used as a synonym for cute.