Shrew

Pronunciation: /ʃruː/

Definitions of shrew

noun a bad-tempered or aggressively assertive woman.

Example Sentences

A1 The shrew is a small mammal that resembles a mouse.

A2 In the story, the shrew is portrayed as a mean and unpleasant character.

B1 The shrew scurried across the garden, looking for food.

B2 She was known for her shrewd business tactics that always led to success.

C1 The shrewd politician knew how to manipulate the media to his advantage.

C2 Her shrewd observations about human behavior made her a respected psychologist.

Examples of shrew in a Sentence

formal The shrew is a small insectivorous mammal with a long, pointed snout.

informal My sister can be a real shrew when she's in a bad mood.

slang Don't be such a shrew, lighten up and have some fun!

figurative Her sharp tongue earned her a reputation as a shrew among her peers.

Grammatical Forms of shrew

• plural: shrews
• comparative: more shrewish
• superlative: most shrewish
• present tense: shrews
• future tense: will shrew
• perfect tense: have shrewed
• continuous tense: is shrewing
• singular: shrew
• positive degree: shrew
• infinitive: to shrew
• gerund: shrewing
• participle: shrewed

Origin and Evolution of shrew

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'shrew' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old English word 'screawa' meaning a malicious or scolding person.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'shrew' evolved to also refer to a small insectivorous mammal and eventually became associated with a nagging or bad-tempered woman.