keen

1
[ keen ]
/ kin /

adjective, keen·er, keen·est.

Origin of keen

1
before 900; 1930–35 for def 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni bold, Old Norse kœnn wise, skillful

SYNONYMS FOR keen

1, 4 See sharp.
2 cutting, bitter, caustic.
3 piercing, penetrating, acute.
4 discerning, acute, astute, sagacious, shrewd, clever.
5 See avid.
7 earnest, fervid.

ANTONYMS FOR keen

1, 3, 4 dull.

OTHER WORDS FROM keen

keen·ly, adverb keen·ness, noun

Definition for keen (2 of 2)

keen 2
[ keen ]
/ kin /

noun

a wailing lament for the dead.

verb (used without object)

to wail in lamentation for the dead.

verb (used with object)

to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing: keening his mother while kneeling at her grave.

Origin of keen

2
1805–15; < Irish caoine (noun), caoin- (v., stem of caoinim) lament

OTHER WORDS FROM keen

keen·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for keen

British Dictionary definitions for keen (1 of 2)

keen 1
/ (kiːn) /

adjective

Derived forms of keen

keenly, adverb keenness, noun

Word Origin for keen

Old English cēne; related to Old High German kuoni brave, Old Norse koenn wise; see can 1, know

British Dictionary definitions for keen (2 of 2)

keen 2
/ (kiːn) /

verb (intr)

to lament the dead

noun

a dirge or lament for the dead

Derived forms of keen

keener, noun

Word Origin for keen

C19: from Irish Gaelic caoine, from Old Irish coīnim I wail