All 20 Uses
cunning
in
Ben Hur
(Auto-generated)
- The latter, after some manipulation, proved to be a cunning device of lesser joints, one within another, which, when united together, formed a centre pole higher than his head.†
Chpt 1.2cunning = good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
- In all directions the grade sloped gently from the centre, where there was a reservoir, or deep marble basin, broken at intervals by little gates which, when raised, emptied the water into sluices bordering the walks—a cunning device for the rescue of the place from the aridity too prevalent elsewhere in the region.†
Chpt 2.2
- "Still he who would do justice," she proceeded, "will not forget that the cunning of our hands was bound by the prohibition, 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything;' which the Sopherim wickedly extended beyond its purpose and time.†
Chpt 2.5
- So the cunning son of Jupiter and Callisto built the old Arcadia; and in this, as in that, the genius was Greek.†
Chpt 4.6
- With a cunning twinkle of the eyes, he took the money, and gave the party in exchange a leaf of papyrus.†
Chpt 4.8 *
- it is a hand of peace, without cunning in war.†
Chpt 5.8
- Let us add now, the world—always cunning enough of itself; always whispering to the weak, Stay, take thine ease; always presenting the sunny side of life—the world was in this instance helped by Ben-Hur's companion.†
Chpt 5.9
- Then the Egyptian came, so the opposite of this little one; so tall, so audacious, with a flattery so cunning, a wit so ready, a beauty so wonderful, a manner so bewitching.†
Chpt 5.9
- The air of passionless hauteur characteristic of the fine patrician face was there as of old, and so was the Italian beauty, which the helmet rather increased; but more—it may have been a jealous fancy, or the effect of the brassy shadow in which the features were at the moment cast, still the Israelite thought he saw the soul of the man as through a glass, darkly: cruel, cunning, desperate; not so excited as determined—a soul in a tension of watchfulness and fierce resolve.†
Chpt 5.14
- They had not seen the cunning touch of the reins by which, turning a little to the left, he caught Messala's wheel with the iron-shod point of his axle, and crushed it; but they had seen the transformation of the man, and themselves felt the heat and glow of his spirit, the heroic resolution, the maddening energy of action with which, by look, word, and gesture, he so suddenly inspired his Arabs.†
Chpt 5.14
- So, with a cunning partly due to Messala, the Roman, under color of punishing a brood of assassins, smoothed a path to confiscation of the estate of the Hurs, of which no portion ever reached the imperial coffers.†
Chpt 6.2
- And he thought, cunning is so easily baffled; and God, always the last resort of the helpless—God is sometimes so slow to act!†
Chpt 6.4
- "A pretty invention, and cunning," he said, directly; "but it is imperfect.†
Chpt 7.4
- She has the cunning of her race, with beauty to help her—much beauty, great cunning; but, like her race again, no heart.†
Chpt 8.1
- She has the cunning of her race, with beauty to help her—much beauty, great cunning; but, like her race again, no heart.†
Chpt 8.1
- The scene at the spring on the way to the Jordan reproduced itself; and he remembered thinking then that Esther had betrayed him, and thinking so now, he said calmly as he could, "To give you pleasure, daughter of Egypt, I acknowledge your cunning, and that I am at your mercy.†
Chpt 8.6
- If the rapidity with which she spoke was a cunning invention to keep him from thinking, either she never knew or else had forgotten that there are convictions which derive nothing from thought, but drop into place without leave or notice.†
Chpt 8.6
- tell him—this for your comfort, O cunning incarnate, as much as his—tell him that when the Lord Sejanus comes to despoil me he will find nothing;†
Chpt 8.6
- That she should not see I saw her cunning drift I kissed her.†
Chpt 8.7
- The cunning casuists there put the assumption underlying the question and the admission underlying the answer together.†
Chpt 8.10
Definitions:
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(1)
(cunning as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
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(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) At one time, cunning was also used as a synonym for cute.