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Deceitfulness vs Cunning - What's the difference?

deceitfulness | cunning | Related terms |

Deceitfulness is a related term of cunning.


As nouns the difference between deceitfulness and cunning

is that deceitfulness is the state or quality of being deceitful while cunning is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

As an adjective cunning is

sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

deceitfulness

English

Noun

(-)
  • The state or quality of being deceitful.
  • *1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts XIII:
  • *:O full off all sutelte and disseytfulnes the chylde off the devyll, and the enemye of all righteousnes thou ceasest not to pervert the strayght wayes off the lorde.
  • *1839 , Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby , ch. 42,
  • *:'This is the hend, is it, of all my bearing with her deceitfulness , her lowness, her falseness, her laying herself out to catch the admiration of vulgar minds . . .'
  • *1903 , Andy Adams, The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days , ch. 20 "A Moonlight Drive",
  • *:The lanterns both rear and forward being always in sight, I was as much at sea as any one as to the length of the herd, knowing the deceitfulness of distance of campfires and other lights by night.

    • 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)