shyster
To act in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice…To act in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law and politics.
Meaning
2 senses(intransitive)To act in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law and politics.
(transitive)To exploit (someone or something) in this way.
Origin
US origin, 19th century. The etymology of the word is not generally agreed upon. The OxforUS origin, 19th century. The etymology of the word is not generally agreed upon. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as "of obscure origin," possibly deriving from a historical sense of shy meaning "disreputable", equivalent to shy + -ster. Other sources suggest the word derives from shicer, from the German Scheißer (“incompetent worthless person”), from scheißen (“to defecate”), probably influenced by -ster. Not related to shylock.
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Forms
shysters, shystering, shystered, shystered| Base form | shyster · to shyster |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | shysters |
| Present participle | shystering |
| Past simple | shystered |
| Past participle | shystered |
irregular
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle