shady

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective (of businesses and businessmen) unscrupulous
  2. adjective of questionable taste or morality
  3. adjective not as expected

Etymology

From shade + -y. Compare Saterland Frisian skaadich, skaddich (“shady”), German schattig (“shady”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

fly-by-night

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