English
Pronunciation
IPA|[ki�n]
audio|en-us-keen.ogg|Audio (US)
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-i�n|-i�n
Homophones: Keane, Keene
Etymology 1
Old English c�ne 'bold, brave' < Proto-Germanic *k�njaz
Adjective
en-adj|keen|er
- 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.
- 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.
- Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
#: "Good father cardinal, cry thou amen to my keen curses." -Shak.
- 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.
- Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
#: "Of full keen will." -Piers Plowman.
#: "So keen and greedy to confound a man." -Shak.
Synonyms
prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.
Derived terms
keen-witted
keen as mustard
keen on
keenly
keenness
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.
Verb
en-verb
- transitive To sharpen; to make cold. [R.]
#: "Cold winter keens the brightening flood." -Thomson.
Etymology 2
Irish caoin 'keen, weep, cry'
Noun
en-noun
- A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
Verb
en-verb
- context|Ireland|intransitive To utter a keen.
Related terms
keener
Category:Irish derivations
fa:keen
fr:keen
io:keen
it:keen
hu:keen
ja:keen
pl:keen
fi:keen
ta:keen
te:keen
vi:keen
zh:keen
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