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Skill vs Cunning - What's the difference?

skill | cunning |

In obsolete terms the difference between skill and cunning

is that skill is display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address while cunning is knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

As nouns the difference between skill and cunning

is that skill is capacity to do something well; technique, ability. Skills are usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities, which are often thought of as innate while cunning is knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

As adjectives the difference between skill and cunning

is that skill is great, excellent while cunning is sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

As a verb skill

is to set apart; separate.

skill

English

(wikipedia skill)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) skilen (also schillen), partly from (etyl) scylian, .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To set apart; separate.
  • (transitive, chiefly, dialectal) To discern; have knowledge or understanding; to know how (to).
  • * (rfdate) Herbert:
    • I can not skill of these thy ways.
  • To know; to understand.
  • * Barrow
    • to skill the arts of expressing our mind
  • To have knowledge or comprehension; discern.
  • To have personal or practical knowledge; be versed or practised; be expert or dextrous.
  • (archaic) To make a difference; signify; matter.
  • * (rfdate) Herbert:
    • What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold / About thy neck do drown thee?
  • * (rfdate) Sir Walter Scott:
    • It skills not talking of it.
    Synonyms
    * (separate) split (call management systems)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) skill, skille (also schil, schile), from (etyl) .

    Noun

  • Capacity to do something well; technique, ability. Skills are usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities, which are often thought of as innate.
  • *
  • *:Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill .
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-12-06, author=(Simon Hoggart)
    • , volume=189, issue=26, page=43, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Araucaria's last puzzle: crossword master dies , passage=The skill was not in creating a grid full of words, but in producing clues cryptic enough to baffle the puzzler, yet constructed so honestly that they could be solved by any intelligent person who knew the conventions.}}
  • (lb) Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause.
  • :(Shakespeare)
  • (lb) Knowledge; understanding.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Nor want we skill or art.
  • :(Spenser)
  • (lb) Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address.
  • *(Thomas Fuller) (1606-1661)
  • *:Richardby a thousand princely skills , gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return.
    • Synonyms
    * ability * talent * See also
    Derived terms
    * skillset
    Related terms
    * skilful, skillful * skilled * skillfulness

    Adjective

    (skiller)
  • (UK, slang) great, excellent
  • * 1987 , Teresa Maughan, Letters'' (in ''Your Sinclair issue 18, June 1987)
    • Well, unfortunately for you, my dearest Waggipoos, I'm much more skill than you!
  • * 1991 , Wreckers'' (video game review in ''Crash issue 88, May 1991)
    • This game is skill . Remember that because it's going to sound really complicated.
  • * 1999', "Andy Smith", ''I am well '''skill'' (on Internet newsgroup ''alt.digitiser )
    • And I am skiller than you.

    Anagrams

    * kills

    References

    * Skel i 1000 English basic words ---- ==Norwegian Bokmål==

    Verb

    (head)

    • 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)