WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Keen
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS.c bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. k?hn, OSw. kyn, k?n, Icel. k?nn, for koenn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able.
Definition : 1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge. A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene. Chaucer. That my keen knife see not the wound it makes. Shak.

2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features. To make our wits more keen. Shak. Before the keen inquiry of her thought. Cowper.

3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm. Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses. Shak.

4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc, ; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen. Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes. Goldsmith.

5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. "Of full kene will." Piers Plowman. So keen and greedy to confound a man. Shak.

Note: Keen is often used in the composition of words, most of which are of obvious signification; as, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen- sighted, keen-witted, etc.

Syn. -- Prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.

[Compar. Keener; superl. Keenest.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Keen
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To sharpen; to make cold. [R.] Cold winter keens the brightening flood. Thomson.

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Keen
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Ir. caoine.]
Definition : Defn: A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach. [Ireland] Froude.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Keen
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To wail as a keener does. [Ireland]

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913