shrew

n. [ See Shrew, a. ] 1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a brawler; a scold. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [ i. e., bad men ] have prosperity, or else that good men have adversity. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could be no quiet in the house for her. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ AS. screáwa; -- so called because supposed to be venomous. ] (Zool.) Any small insectivore of the genus Sorex and several allied genera of the family Sorecidae. In form and color they resemble mice, but they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are the smallest of all mammals. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European species are the house shrew (Crocidura araneus), and the erd shrew (Sorex vulgaris) (see under Erd.). In the United States several species of Sorex and Blarina are common, as the broadnosed shrew (Sorex platyrhinus), Cooper's shrew (Sorex Cooperi), and the short-tailed, or mole, shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Th American water, or marsh, shrew (Neosorex palustris), with fringed feet, is less common. The common European water shrews are Crossopus fodiens, and the oared shrew (see under Oared). [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth shrew, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family Centetidae, as the tendrac. --
Elephant shrew,
Jumping shrew,
Mole shrew. See under Elephant, Jumping, etc. --
Musk shrew. See Desman. --
River shrew, an aquatic West African insectivore (Potamogale velox) resembling a weasel in form and size, but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes. --
Shrew mole, a common large North American mole (Scalops aquaticus). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent purple tints. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Shrew, a., and cf. Beshrew. ] To beshrew; to curse. [ Obs. ] “I shrew myself.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Shrewder superl. Shrewdest. ] [ Originally the p. p. of shrew, v.t. ] 1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Egypt ] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by. Sir J. Mandeville. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every of this happy number
That have endured shrewd days and nights with us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. [ 1913 Webster ]

Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. Secker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious; discerning; acute; penetrating. -- Shrewd, Sagacious. One who is shrewd is keen to detect errors, to penetrate disguises, to foresee and guard against the selfishness of others. Shrewd is a word of less dignity than sagacious, which implies a comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas shrewd does not. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Shrewd"ly, adv. -- Shrewd"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. having the qualities of a shrew; having a scolding disposition; froward; peevish. [ 1913 Webster ]

My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Shrew"ish*ly, adv. -- Shrew"ish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]