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sly

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The definition of sly is someone or something that is clever in a deceitful or cunning way.

(adjective)

An example of something that would be described as sly is a devious secret plot to win an award.

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See sly in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective slier or slyer, sliest or slyest

Dialectal skillful or clever
skillful at trickery or deceit; crafty; wily
showing a secretive, crafty, or wily nature; cunningly underhanded
mischievous in a playful way; roguish

Origin: ME sley < ON slœgr, clever, cunning, lit., able to strike < base of slā & OE slean, to strike: see slay

Related Forms:

slyly adverb
slyness noun

See sly in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective sli·er (slīˈər) also sly·er, sli·est (slīˈĕst) also sly·est

Clever or cunning, especially in the practice of deceit.
Stealthy or surreptitious: took a sly look at the letter on the table.
Playfully mischievous: a sly laugh.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sleigh

Origin: , from Old Norse slœgr

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Related Forms:

slyˈly adverb

slyˈness noun

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