keen 1
— keenly , adv. — keenness , n.
/keen/ , adj., keener, keenest .
1. finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
2. sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind; keen satire.
3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes; keen ears.
4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning; a keen mind.
5. animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
6. intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
7. eager; interested; enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
8. Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
[ bef. 900; 1930-35 for def. 8; ME kene, OE cene; c. G kühn, OHG chuoni bold, ON koenn wise, skillful ]
Syn. 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.
Ant. 1, 3, 4. dull.
keen 2
— keener , n.
/keen/ , n.
1. a wailing lament for the dead.
v.i.
2. to wail in lamentation for the dead.
v.t.
3. to bewail or lament by or with keening.
[ 1805-15; caoine (n.), caoin- (v., s. of caoinim ) lament ]