Chapter Showiness to Shrink of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch.

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.

Shrewish
(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.

Shrewmouse
(Shrew"mouse`) n. (Zoöl.) A shrew; especially, the erd shrew.

Shriek
(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
(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
(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.

Shrieker
(Shriek"er) n. One who utters a shriek.

Shrieval
(Shriev"al) a. Of or pertaining to a sheriff.

Shrievalty
(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
(Shrieve) n. [Contr. from OE. shereve. See Sheriff.] A sheriff. [Obs.] Shak.