All 5 Uses of
cunning
in
King Lear
- Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.†
Scene 1.1cunning = good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
- It was not brought me, my lord, there's the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet.†
Scene 1.2 *
- I hear my father coming:—pardon me; In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:— Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.†
Scene 2.1
- There is division, Although as yet the face of it be cover'd With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; Who have,—as who have not, that their great stars Throne and set high?†
Scene 3.1
- Cunning.†
Scene 3.7
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.