More skillful and clever, especially at deceiving others or using tricks to get what you want.
Comparative form of 'crafty,' from Old English 'cræftig' (skilled, strong). Over time, the skill aspect became associated with cunning and deception, shifting from neutral ability to morally questionable cleverness.
Fascinating shift: 'craft' started as pure skill and strength, but by Shakespeare's time it had picked up mischievous connotations—now a 'crafty' person is sly rather than simply skilled, showing how words absorb moral judgments.
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