English Explanatory Dictionary

keen

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
  2. Fierce, intense, vehement.
  3. Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
  4. Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
  5. Acrimonious, bitter, piercing.
  6. Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.
  7. Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.
  8. Marvelous.
  9. Brave, courageous; audacious, bold.
verb
  1. To make cold, to sharpen.
noun
  1. A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
verb
  1. To utter a keen.
  2. To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.
  3. To mourn.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/kiːn/ kēn /kin/ en-us-keen.ogg en-au-keen.ogg

Word forms

keen keener more keen keenest most keen keene kene keens keening keened

Etymology

From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English cēne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful; learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (“knowledgeable, skilful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”). Cognate with Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Dutch kien (“smart, wise, able”), koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”), Faroese kønur (“expert (in, on), experienced, skilful, able, capable”), Scots keen (“lively, brisk; avaricious”). Related to Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). More at cunning, can.

Synonyms

penetrating shrewd ardent eager prompt sharp acute biting cutting piercing howl wail grieve lament afterthink becry begrieve bemoan bemourn bewail beweep condole deplore elegize grieven keen mean mourn pine repent sigh sorrow wayment

Related words

keener

Derived words

keen as a bean keen as a Jew keen as knives keen as mustard keenly keenness keeno keen on keen-witted overkeen peachy keen peachy keen jelly bean treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen unkeen young and keen
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