I. ˈkēn adjective
Etymology: Middle English kene brave, sharp, from Old English cēne brave; akin to Old High German kuoni brave
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : having a fine edge or point : sharp
b. : affecting one as if by cutting
keen sarcasm
c. : pungent to the sense
a keen scent
2.
a.
(1) : showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : enthusiastic
a keen swimmer
(2) : eager
was keen to begin
b. of emotion or feeling : intense
the keen delight in the chase — F. W. Maitland
3.
a. : intellectually alert : having or characteristic of a quick penetrating mind
a keen student
a keen awareness of the problem
also : shrewdly astute
b. : sharply contested
keen debate
c. : extremely sensitive in perception
keen eyes
4. : wonderful , excellent
Synonyms: see sharp , eager
• keen·ly adverb
• keen·ness ˈkēn-nəs noun
•
- keen on
II. noun
Date: 1830
: a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry
III. verb
Etymology: Irish caoinim I lament, weep
Date: 1845
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to lament with a keen
b. : to make a sound suggestive of a keen
2. : to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
transitive verb
: to utter by keening
• keen·er noun