Forms 4–5 kunning(e, -yng(e, konning, -yng(e, konyng, 4–6 cunnyng(e, conning, -yng(e, coninge, -yng(e, 5 kunyng, (6 cooninng, coonning, counninge, -ynge), 5– cunning. [Verbal sb. from CAN v.1 (inf. OE. cunnan, ME. cunnen, connen) in its earlier sense ‘to know,’ hence orig. = L. scientia, sapientia. Not recorded in OE. (which had however oncunning accusation, from the deriv. oncunnan to accuse), but like the cognate CUNNING a., common since the 14th c.]
† 1. Knowledge; learning, erudition. Obs.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2350. Clerkes of grete cunnyng. Ibid., 7207. ‘Flos Sciencie’ Þat es on Ynglys ‘þe flour of konyng.’
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., Prol. 2. Manie han zeel … but not aftir Kunnyng.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 93. The Carll had Cunning weill quhair the gait lay.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 50. We be puft up with coninge.
1559. Morwyng, Evonym., Pref. Ready to communicate … any cunning I had.
1571. Campion, Hist. Irel., ix. (1633), 27. The Barbarians highly honoured him, for his cunning in all languages.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 13. He that would try his Cunning in History when he was old.
† 2. The capacity or faculty of knowing; wit, wisdom, intelligence. Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 115. One yelþe of þe holy gost þet is y-cleped þe yefþe of connynge.
1407. W. Thorpe, in Exam. I … believe that all these three Persons are euen in power and in cunning, and in might.
1507[?]. Communyc. (W. de W.), A ij. I made the also lyke unto me And gaue the connynge and free wyll.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), p. lxvii. They have scantly the cunning of a snite.
1532. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. (1557), 1008/1. Great vertues, and great giftes of God, as chastitie, liberalitie … temperaunce, cunning.
3. Knowledge how to do a thing; ability, skill, expertness, dexterity, cleverness. (Formerly the prevailing sense; now only a literary archaism.)
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 866. Cryseyde … Als ferforthe as she konnynge hadde or myght, Answerde hym.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 347. But for to medle medicyns in þis maner þer mote be miche kunnynge for to proporcioune hem.
c. 1500. Nottingham Rec., III. 447. The oath of the Common Councell. Ye shall well and truly, to your cunning and power [etc.].
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 15. Grievously diseased … incurable by Man’s Cunning.
1611. Bible, Ps. cxxxvii. 5. If I forget thee, O Ierusalem: let my right hand forget her cunning.
1743. Lond. & Country Brewer, II. (ed. 2), 140. If such Brewers happen right … it is more by Chance, than Cunning.
1807. Wordsw., White Doe of Ryl., I. 94. High-ribbed vault … With perfect cunning framed.
1865. Rawlinson, Anc. Mon., III. v. 384. As nature’s cunning arranges lines in the rainbow.
† b. transf. An application of skill; an ingenious device or means (quot. 1527). Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 142. Whiche settyng of stones … [is] ferre greater connynge than is ye hewynge of stones.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, I vj. The same water is a very good connyng for to make the face clere and fayre.
1684. R. H., Sch. Recreat., 83. The first … Cunning to be observed in Bowling, is the right chusing your Bowl.
† 4. A branch of knowledge or of skilled work; a science or art, a craft. In early times often = occult art, magic. Obs.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1611. Baltazar … Þat now is demed Danyel of derne coninges.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 716. Þis King with his conning kithes his werkes With wiles of witchcraft.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne, 14. Þey haue maistris … to teche hem þat cunnyng of astronomye.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 49. Sadelarie and talarie ben ij dyuerse facultees and kunninges.
1539. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. iii. 158. Lycens to exercyse hys connyng withyn the libertyes of London.
1592. West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 1. A, Symbolæography is an Art or cunning rightly to fourme and make written Instruments.
5. Now usually in bad sense: Skill employed in a secret or underhand manner, or for purposes of deceit; skilful deceit, craft, artifice. (Cf. CRAFT 4.) b. As a personal quality: Disposition to use one’s skill in an underhand way; skilfulness in deceiving, craftiness, artfulness.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 45. Soom practis or oother Heere lurcks of coonning: trust not this treacherus ensigne.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. i. 54. Nay, you may thinke my loue was craftie loue, And call it cunning.
1612. Bacon, Ess., Cunning (Arb.), 434. We take Cunning for a sinister or crooked Wisedome.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 182. A piece of cunning, whereby he had couzened many.
a. 1718. W. Penn, Maxims, Wks. 1726, I. 828. Cunning borders very near upon Knavery.
1842. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, III. ix. 142. The perfection of cunning is to conceal its own quality.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Truth, Wks. (Bohn), II. 52. Nature has endowed some animals with cunning, as a compensation for strength withheld.
