Emily Dickinson Lexicon

shrewd (-ly), adv. [see shrewd, adj.]

Keenly, perceptively.

shrewd, n. [see shrewd, adj.]

Cunning person.

shriek, n. [Parallel to screak, v. < ON poss. echoic.]

Loud, high-pitched laughter; [fig.] death cry.

shriek, v. [see shriek, n.]

Cry wildly; scream because of pain.

shrill, adj. [ME, related to Gr. 'of sharp tone or taste'.]

1. Of an instrument or other inanimate object.
2. Uttering an acute sound.

shrine, n. [OE < L. scrinium , case or chest for books or papers.] (webplay: thee).

1. Case; box; display case.
2. Body; tabernacle for the human heart; dwelling place.
3. Place of worship; tomb; burial monument; final resting place.

shrink (shrank, -ing, shrunken), v. [see shrink, verbal adj.]

Draw back; avoid physical contact or conflict; recoil through lack of courage.

shrink (-ing), verbal adj. [OE scrincan, shrivelled, wrinkled.] (webplay: affright).

Recoiling from difficulty or something distasteful; retiring.

shrivelled, adj. [Origin unknown; poss. Sw. skryvla, to wrinkle.]

1. Form wrinkles and dry up.
2. Reduced size, volume, or extent.

shriven, verbal adj. [OE 'allot, assign, decree, adjudge, impose as a sentence, impose penance, regard, care for' < L. scribere, to write.]

1. Confessed; martyrs sentenced to death.
2. Absolved; beyond death.