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Cunning vs Falseness - What's the difference?

cunning | falseness | Related terms |

Cunning is a related term of falseness.


As nouns the difference between cunning and falseness

is that cunning is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge) while falseness is the characteristic of being false.

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)

    falseness

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The characteristic of being false.
  • *Syn. Falsehood'', ''Falseness'', ''Falsity''; untruth, fabrication, fiction. Instances may be quoted in abundance from old authors to show that the first three words are often strictly synonymous; but the modern tendency has been decidedly in favor of separating them, ''falsehood'' standing for the concrete thing, an intentional lie; ''falseness'', for the quality of being guiltily false or treacherous: as, he is justly despised for his ''falseness'' to his oath; and ''falsity'', for the quality of being false without blame: as, the ''falsity'' of reasoning. — the ''Century Dictionary , 1911.

    • Synonyms

    * See also