◙ adjective 1. having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion • 狡猾的；狡诈的；诡诈的 »a cunning look came into his eyes. 他的眼中露出一丝狡猾的神色。 ingenious • 有独创性的；具创造性的 »plants have evolved cunning defences. 植物演化出了独特的自我保护能力。 2. [N. Amer.] attractive;quaint • [北美] 可爱的；精致的 »Baby will look too cunning for anything in that pink print. 孩子穿上那粉红色的印花布衣，简直可爱极了。 ◙ noun 1. [mass noun] skill in achieving one's ends by deceit • 狡猾；诡诈；狡诈 »a statesman to whom cunning had come as second nature. 一个以狡诈为第二本性的政客。 ingenuity • 灵巧；熟练 »what resources of energy and cunning it took just to survive. 需要有怎样的精力和灵巧才能够生存呀。
【派生】
♦ cunningly adverb ♦ cunningness noun
【语源】
1. Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse kunnandi 'knowledge', from kunna 'know' (related to can), or perhaps from Middle English cunne, an obsolete variant of can. The original sense was ('possessing) erudition or skill' and had no implication of deceit; the sense 'deceitfulness' dates from late Middle English