astucia
cunning; shrewdness
noun ahs-TOO-syah Rare
Origin: From Latin 'astutia', from 'astutus' (crafty).
Usage Note
Astucia can be positive (clever resourcefulness) or negative (craftiness, slyness), depending on context. The related adjective is astuto/astuta. It is distinct from inteligencia (intelligence), which is neutral, and picardía (roguishness, mischief), which is more playful. The phrase con astucia ('cunningly', 'shrewdly') is a common collocation. The word appears frequently in fables and literary descriptions of clever characters.
Examples
"Resolvió el problema con mucha astucia."
Natural Translation
He solved the problem with great cunning.
Related Words
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