’Cute

Acute, smart. This form of the word seems to have originated in England, being found in Bailey’s Dictionary, 1731. See also quot. 1779. It has become universal in America.

1779.  Egad! you’re a cute Girl, and mayhap may be able to make something of him.—Mrs. Cowley, ‘Who’s the Dupe.’

1806.  A “cute” old gentleman in that street.—‘Spirit of the Public Journals,’ p. 61 (Baltimore).

bef. 1812.  “Now,” he continued, “I’ve read Goldsmith’s ‘History of Rome;’ that’s rather a cute book, I reckon, and I like it much. And then there’s them volumes of Josephus—ha’n’t you never read ’em? they’re considerably well done, I think. And then there’s the Nat’ral History, Buchan’s ‘Med’cin,’ and Lindley Murray’s Grammar, and some more of the like I know well. Them are all judgmatical books, I reckon. What do you think on ’em? I never have read no rumances or poetry, but two—‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ and ‘Robinson Crusoe;’ don’t see there’s much genius in ’em; them are too ‘belittling’ as Mr. Jefferson says, for a man to read.” [This was in Vermont.]—John Bernard, ‘Retrospections of America,’ p. 325 (N.Y., 1887).

1825.  Says I to the marchant, says I; how’ll you swap watches—how’ll you swap, says I?—So then, says he to me, says he; sharp off the reel;—as ’cute a feller that, as ever you seed.—John Neal, ‘Brother Jonathan,’ i. 156.

1831.  

1833.  The Yankees, as I told you before, are apt to be too cute for us in every thing except horseflesh, and even sometimes in that.—Asa Greene (‘Elnathan Elmwood’), ‘A Yankee among the Nullifiers,’ p. 28. (Italics in the original.)

1834.  A pretty considerable of a cute story.—‘Letters of Major Jack Downing,’ p. 194.

1836.  William is from “down east,” and does not seem to be as “cute” as Yankees generally.—Phila. Public Ledger, April 28.

1846.  

1856.  Though I can’t pretend to be one of your cute sort, that you ’re a good deal nearer to the true nature of the big drink than many folks who come down to recite poetry to it.—Knick. Mag., xlviii. 280 (Sept.).