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Adept vs Cunning - What's the difference?

adept | cunning |

As adjectives the difference between adept and cunning

is that adept is well skilled; completely versed; thoroughly proficient while cunning is sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

As nouns the difference between adept and cunning

is that adept is one fully skilled or well versed in anything; a proficient; as, adepts in philosophy while cunning is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

adept

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Well skilled; completely versed; thoroughly proficient
  • * 1837-1839 ,
    • Adept as she was, in all the arts of cunning and dissimulation, the girl Nancy could not wholly conceal the effect which the knowledge of the step she had taken, wrought upon her mind.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * inept

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One fully skilled or well versed in anything; a proficient; as, adepts in philosophy.
  • * 1841 , , Barnaby Rudge :
    • When he had achieved this task, he applied himself to the acquisition of stable language, in which he soon became such an adept , that he would perch outside my window and drive imaginary horses with great skill, all day.
  • * 1894-95 , , Jude the Obscure :
    • Others, alas, had an instinct towards artificiality in their very blood, and became adepts in counterfeiting at the first glimpse of it.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * apt * aptitude

    Anagrams

    * pated, taped

    References

    * ----

    cunning

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cunning, kunning, konnyng, alteration of earlier (etyl) cunninde, kunnende, cunnand, from (etyl) cunnende, present participle of . More at (l), (l).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
  • * South
    • They are resolved to be cunning ; let others run the hazard of being sincere.
  • (obsolete) Skillful, artful.
  • * Bible, Genesis xxv. 27
    • Esau was a cunning hunter.
  • * Bible, Exodus xxxviii. 23
    • a cunning workman
  • * Shakespeare
    • ''Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white / Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.
  • (obsolete) Wrought with, or exibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
    • cunning work
  • * Spenser
    • Over them Arachne high did lift / Her cunning web.
  • (US, colloquial, rare) Cute, appealing.
    • a cunning little boy
    (Bartlett)
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) cunning, kunnyng, partially from (etyl) *.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).
  • Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
  • * 2005 , .
    • indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate.
  • Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit.
  • The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
  • The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
    • the cunning of the fox or hare
    Synonyms
    * (l) * (l) * (l)