All 6 Uses of
cunning
in
Othello, the Moor of Venice
- It is judgement maim'd and most imperfect That will confess perfection so could err Against all rules of nature; and must be driven To find out practices of cunning hell, Why this should be.†
Scene 1.3cunning = good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
- Good my lord, If I have any grace or power to move you, His present reconciliation take; For if he be not one that truly loves you, That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, I have no judgement in an honest face: I pr'y thee, call him back.†
Scene 3.3
- I will be found most cunning in my patience;
Scene 4.1 *cunning = clever
- I cry you mercy then: I took you for that cunning whore of Venice That married with Othello.†
Scene 4.2cunning = good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
- Put out the light, and then put out the light: If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me:—but once put out thy light, Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat That can thy light relume.†
Scene 5.2
- For this slave,— If there be any cunning cruelty That can torment him much and hold him long, It shall be his.†
Scene 5.2
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.