crafty (kraft i)

[ Wyclif , Ex. xxxviii. 23. I found him a judicious, crafty, and wise man. Evelyn , Diary, May 28, 1656. It [the People's Palace] will fill that lad's mind with thoughts and make those hands deft and crafty . Contemporary Rev. , LI. 231. 2. Skilful in devising and executing schemes, especially secret or evil schemes; cunning; artful; wily; sly. The crafty enemy, knowing the habits of the garrison to sleep soundly after they had eaten their dinners and smoked their pipes, stole upon them at the noontide of a sultry summer's day. Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 221. Crafty, yet gifted with the semblance of sincerity, combining the piety of pilgrims with the morals of highwayJ. A. Symonds, Italy and Greece, p. 149. men. And they bene laden, I vnderstand, With wollen cloth all maner of colours By dyers crafted full diuers, that ben ours. 2. Specifically, to build. Let crafte it [a cistern] up pleasaunt as it may suffice Unto thi self, as best is broode and longe. Palladius , Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 16.