~ 1
■ adjective
1》 chiefly Brit. eager; enthusiastic.
↘( ~ on ) interested in or attracted by.
2》 (of the edge or point of a blade) sharp.
↘(of a sense or mental faculty) acute or quick.
↘(of the air or wind) cold and biting.
3》 (of activity or feeling) intense.
4》 Brit. (of prices) very low; competitive.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE cēne 'wise, clever', also 'brave, daring', of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ verb wail in grief for a dead person.
↘make an eerie wailing sound.
■ noun an Irish funeral song accompanied with wailing in lamentation for the dead.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
C19: from Ir. caoinim 'I wail'.