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Cunning vs Diplomatic - What's the difference?

cunning | diplomatic | Related terms |

Cunning is a related term of diplomatic.


As nouns the difference between cunning and diplomatic

is that cunning is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge) while diplomatic is diplomat.

As an adjective cunning

is sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

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)

    diplomatic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * diplomatick (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Concerning the relationships between the governments of countries.
  • She spent thirty years working for Canada's diplomatic service.
    Albania immediately severed diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe.
  • Exhibiting diplomacy; exercising tact or courtesy; using discussion to avoid hard feelings, fights or arguments.
  • Thoughtful corrections can be diplomatic as well as instructional.
  • describing a publication of a text which follows a single basic manuscript, but with variants in other manuscripts noted in the critical apparatus
  • * Whereas a diplomatic edition uses as its base text a single, "best" manuscript, to which other textual evidence is collated and organized into an apparatus, a critical text of the LXX/OG may be described as a collection of the oldest recoverable texts, carefully restored book by book (or section by section), aiming at achieving the closest approximation to the original translations (from Hebrew or Aramaic) or compositions (in Greek), systematically reconstructed from the widest array of relevant textual data (including controlled conjecture).'' The International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies, ''Critical Editions of Septuagint/Old Greek Texts .
  • Relating to diplomatics, or the study of old texts; paleographic.
  • Derived terms

    * diplomatic bag * diplomatic flu * diplomatic immunity * diplomatic mission * diplomatic pouch * diplomatic relations

    Noun

    (-)
  • The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.
  • * 1983 , Theodore Frank Thomas Plucknett, Studies in English legal history (page 151)
  • In its broadest aspect, the subject-matter of diplomatic is the relation between documents and facts.
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