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.

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