These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
Shak.
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.
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd
suspicion that we have deserved it.
Secker.
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.
-- Shrewd"ly, adv. -- Shrewd"ness, n.
Shrew"ish (?), a. having the qualities of a shrew; having a scolding
disposition; froward; peevish.
My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours.
Shak.
-- Shrew"ish*ly, adv. -- Shrew"ish*ness, n.
Shrew"mouse` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A shrew; especially, the erd shrew.
Shriek (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrieked (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Shrieking.] [OE. shriken, originallythe same word as E. screech. See
Screech, and cf. Screak.] To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry,
as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in
horror or anguish.
It was the owl that shrieked.
Shak.
At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train Echoed her grief.
Dryden.
Shriek (?), v. t. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a
shriek or shrieks.
On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl, Shrieking his baleful
note.
Spenser.
She shrieked his name To the dark woods.
Moore.
Shriek, n. A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as
is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.
Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town.
Dryden.
Shriek owl. (Zoöl.) (a) The screech owl. (b) The swift; -- so called
from its cry.
Shriek"er (?), n. One who utters a shriek.
Shriev"al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a sheriff.
Shriev"al*ty (?), n. [Contr. from sheriffalty. See Shrieve, n.
Sheriff.] The office, or sphere of jurisdiction, of a sheriff;
sheriffalty.
It was ordained by 28 Edward I that the people shall have election
of sheriff in every shire where the shrievalty is not of
inheritance.
Blackstone.
Shrieve (?), n. [Contr. from OE. shereve. See Sheriff.] A sheriff.
[Obs.] Shak.
Shrieve, v. t. To shrive; to question. [Obs.] "She gan him soft to
shrieve." Spenser.
Shrift (?), n. [OE. shrift, schrift, AS. scrift, fr. scrfan to shrive.
See Shrive.] 1. The act of shriving.
In shrift and preaching is my diligence.
Chaucer.
2. Confession made to a priest, and the absolution consequent upon it.
Chaucer.
Have you got leave to go to shrift to- day?
Shak.
Therefore, my lord, address you to your shrift, And be yourself;
for you must die this instant.
Rowe.
Shrift father, a priest to whom confession is made.
Shright (?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Shriek.
She cried alway and shright.
Chaucer.
Shright, n. [See Shriek.] A shriek; shrieking. [Obs] Spenser. "All
hoarse for shright." Chaucer.
Shrike (?), n. [Akin to Icel. skrkja a shrieker, the shrike, and E.
shriek; cf. AS. scrc a thrush. See Shriek, v. i.] (Zoöl.) Any one of
numerous species of oscinine birds of the family Laniidæ, having a
strong hooked bill, toothed at the tip. Most shrikes are insectivorous,
but the common European gray shrike (Lanius excubitor), the great
northern shrike (L. borealis), and several others, kill mice, small
birds, etc., and often impale them on thorns, and are, on that account
called also butcher birds. See under Butcher.
The ant shrikes, or bush shrikes, are clamatorial birds of the family
Formicaridæ. The cuckoo shrikes of the East Indies and Australia are
Oscines of the family Campephagidæ. The drongo shrikes of the same
regions belong to the related family Dicruridæ. See Drongo.
Crow shrike. See under Crow. -- Shrike thrush. (a) Any one of several
species of Asiatic timaline birds of the genera Thamnocataphus,
Gampsorhynchus, and allies. (b) Any one of several species of
shrikelike Australian singing birds of the genus Colluricincla. --
Shrike tit. (a) Any one of several Australian birds of the genus
Falcunculus, having a strong toothed bill and sharp claws. They creep
over the bark of trees, like titmice, in search of insects. (b) Any one
of several species of small Asiatic birds belonging to Allotrius,
Pteruthius, Cutia, Leioptila, and allied genera, related to the true
tits. Called also hill tit. -- Swallow shrike. See under Swallow.
Shrill (?), a. [Compar. Shriller (?); superl. Shrillest.] [OE. shril,
schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See Shrill,v. i.] Acute;
sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; --
said of a sound, or of that which produces a sound.
Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give To sounds confused.
Shak.
Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high.
Byron.
Shrill, n. A shrill sound. [Obs.] Spenser.
Shrill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shrilling.]
[OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound
loudly, Icel. skrölta to jolt, Sw. skrälla to shrill, Norw. skryla,
skr&?;la. Cf. Skirl.] To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound with
a sharp, shrill tone; to become shrill.
Break we our pipes, that shrilledloud as lark.
Spenser.
No sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock.
Goldsmith.
His voice shrilled with passion.