CUNNING . As a subst. ‘cunning’ in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] means either skill or knowledge; as an adj. either skilful or wise (we cannot say knowing , for that adj. has also degenerated). It is the pres. participle of the Anglo-Sax. verb cunnan , which meant both ‘to know’ and ‘to be able.’ In the Preface to the Wyclifite version of 1388 we read of ‘the Holy Spyrit, author of all wisdom and cunnynge and truth.’