Keen

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.2 Adjective 1.1.2.1 Usage notes 1.1.2.2 Synonyms 1.1.3 Verb 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Noun

English

Etymology 1

Old English cēne 'bold, brave' < Proto-Germanic *kōnjaz

Pronunciation

IPA IPA: [kiːn]

Adjective

keen (comparative: keener, superlative: keenest)

1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.

   "A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene." -Chaucer.

   "That my keen knife see not the wound it makes." -Shak.

2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.

   "To make our wits more keen." -Shak.

   "Before the keen inquiry of her thought." -Cowper.

3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.

   "Good father cardinal, cry thou amen to my keen curses." -Shak.

4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc,; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.

   "Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes." -Goldsmith.

5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.

   "Of full keen will." -Piers Plowman.

   "So keen and greedy to confound a man." -Shak.

Usage notes

Keen is often used in the composition of words, most of which are of obvious signification; as, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen-sighted, keen-witted, etc.

Synonyms

• prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.

Verb

keen (keens, keened, keening)

Transitive:

1. To sharpen; to make cold. [R.]

   "Cold winter keens the brightening flood." -Thomson.

Intransitive:

1. (Ireland): To utter a keen.

Etymology 2

Irish caoin 'keen, cry'

Noun

keen

1. A prolonged wail for a deceased person.io:keen

it:keen hu:keen fi:keen zh:keen