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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

May 26, 2012

Project::Noah

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Preface to 1828 Dictionary

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(4) Words.

cunning
cunningly
cunningman
cunningness

Webster

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C › cunning

1828 Definition

CUNNING, a. [G. See Can.]

1. Knowing; skillful; experienced; well-instructed. It is applied to all kinds of knowledge, but generally and appropriately, to the skill and dexterity of artificers, or the knowledge acquired by experience.

Esau was a cunning hunter. Genesis 23.

I will take away the cunning artificer. Isaiah 3.

A cunning workman. Exodus 38.

2. Wrought with skill; curious; ingenious.

With cherubs of cunning work shalt thou make them. Exodus 26.

[The foregoing senses occur frequently in our version of the scriptures, but are nearly or quite obsolete.]

3. Artful; shrewd; sly; crafty; astute; designing; as a cunning fellow.

They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being sincere.

In this sense, the purpose or final end of the person may not be illaudalbe; but cunning implies the use of artifice to accomplish the purpose, rather than open, candid, or direct means. Hence,

4. Deceitful; trickish; employing stratagems for a bad purpose.

5. Assumed with subtilty; artful.

Accounting his integrity to be but a cunning face of falsehood.

CUNNING, n.

1. Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity.

Let my right hand forget her cunning. Psalm 137.

2. Art; artifice; artfulness; craft; shrewdness; the faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose. Hence in a bad sense, deceitfulness or deceit; fraudulent skill or dexterity.

Discourage cunning in a child; cunning is the ape of wisdom.

1913 Definition

Cunning (cunning)
a.	(kn"n***ibreve]ng)
Cun"ning
[AS. cunnan to know, to be able. See 1st Con, Can.]

Knowing; skillful; dexterous.

"A cunning workman." Ex. xxxviii. 23.

"Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white
Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.
Shak.

Esau was a cunning hunter.
Gen xxv. 27.

Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious; as, cunning work.

Over them Arachne high did lift Her cunning web.
Spenser.

Crafty; sly; artful; designing; deceitful.

They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being sincere.
South.

Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy.

[Colloq. U.S.] Barlett.

Syn. -- Cunning, Artful, Sly, Wily, Crafty. -- These epithets agree in expressing an aptitude for attaining some end by peculiar and secret means. Cunning is usually low; as, a cunning trick. Artful is more ingenious and inventive; as, an artful device. Sly implies a turn for what is double or concealed; as, sly humor; a sly evasion. Crafty denotes a talent for dexterously deceiving; as, a crafty manager. Wily describes a talent for the use of stratagems; as, a wily politician. "Acunning man often shows his dexterity in simply concealing. An artful man goes further, and exerts his ingenuity in misleading. A crafty man mingles cunning with art, and so shapes his actions as to lull suspicions. The young may be cunning, but the experienced only can be crafty. Slyness is a vulgar kind of cunning; the sly man goes cautiously and silently to work. Wiliness is a species of cunning or craft applicable only to cases of attack and defense." Crabb.

Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity.

[Archaic]

Let my right hand forget her cunning.
Ps. cxxxvii. 5.

A carpenter's desert
Stands more in cunning than in power.
Chapman.

The faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose; fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit; craft.

Discourage cunning in a child; cunning is the ape of wisdom.
Locke.

We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom.
Bacon.

Noah Says...

Noah Webster was born on Monday, October 16th, 1758 making him a Libra, Yin Fire Ox [Ding-chou].

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Project::Noah

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The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed. The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary.

Vision::Reprint

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The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner.

Vision::Redesign

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The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. Beyond the Task::XML, other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for this new website. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

Vision::Recapture

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The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision's success throughout the entire process.

May 26, 2012