keen

keen

keen¹ [kēn]

adj.

[ME kene < OE cene, wise, learned, akin to Ger kühn, bold < IE base * ĝen-, to KNOW: the principal senses spring from the basic notion “capable”]

1. having a sharp edge or point; that can cut well [a keen knife, a keen edge]

2. sharp or cutting in force; piercing [a keen appetite, a keen wind]

3. sharp and quick in seeing, hearing, thinking, etc.; acute [keen eyes, a keen intelligence]

4. sharp-witted; mentally acute; shrewd

5. eager; enthusiastic; much interested: often with about, on, etc.

6. strongly felt or perceived; intense; strong [keen desire, a keen scent ]

☆ 7. Slang good, fine, etc.: a generalized term of approval

SYN.- EAGER¹, SHARP

keenly

adv.

keenness

n.

keen² [kēn]

n.

[Ir caoine < caoinim, I wail]

Irish a wailing for the dead; dirge

vi.

1. Irish to lament or wail for the dead

2. to make a wailing, shrill, or mournful sound suggestive of a keen

vt.

to utter in a wailing tone

SYN.- CRY