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Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. Secker.

A trickish knave; one who carries on any business, especially legal business, in a mean and dishonest way. [Slang, U.S.]

A line of goods sold in addition to one's principal articles of trade; a course of business pursued aside from one's regular occupation.

spicuous notice, placed upon or before a building, room, shop, or office to advertise the business there transacted, or the name of the person or firm carrying it on; a publicly displayed token or notice. The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets. Ma…

A man whose business is to manage or display signals; especially, one employed in setting the signals by which railroad trains are run or warned.

before a shop, office, etc., on which ssome notice is given, as the name of a firm, of a business, or the like.

To hold a session; to be in session for official business; -- said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.

presence or meeting of any body of men in their seats, clothed with authority to transact business; a session; as, a sitting of the judges of the King's Bench, or of a commission. The sitting closed in great agitation. Macaulay.

Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack. "With slack pace." Chaucer. Cslack southwest, at midnight was becalmed. Milton. Slack in stays (Naut.), slow in going about, as a ship. -- Slack water, the time when the tide runs slowly, or the water is at rest; or the interval between the…

e, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms. Addison. In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace. South. With such delay Well plased, they slack their course. Milton.

Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. Shak. 'Tis not sleepy business; But must be looked to speedily and strongly. Shak.

Smooth, even passage or progress. A better slide into their business. Bacon.

To do lazily, imperfectly, or coarsely. Slubber not business for my sake. Shak.

influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.

anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief. In business of mirth and of solace. Chaucer. The proper solaces of age are not music and compliments, but wisdom and devotion. Rambler.

To macerate, and render fit for plaster or mortar; as, to sour lime for business purposes.

d or particular partnership; -- a term sometimes applied to a partnership in a particular business, operation, or adventure. -- Special plea in bar (Law), a plea setting forth particular and new matter, distinguished from the general issue. Bouvier. -- Special pleader (Law), originally, a counsel who devoted himself…

Any business venture in involving unusual risks, with a chance for large profits.

. The speculative merchant exercises no one regular, established, or well-known branch of business. A. Smith. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ly, adv. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ness, n.

The business of one who spins; spinning. [Obs.] Milton.