keen

keen
I. 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, eagerkeenly adverbkeenness noun 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 • keener noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Keen — (k[=e]n), a. [Compar. {Keener} (k[=e]n [ e]r); superl. {Keenest}.] [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS. c[=e]ne bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. k[ u]hn, OSw. kyn, k[ o]n, Icel. k[ae]nn, for k[oe]nn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able. [root]45 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keen — [kiːn] adjective 1. if competition is keen, people are trying very hard to get an advantage over others doing the same thing: • Business has become scarcer, competition keener and profit margins slimmer. • These properties are likely to attract… …   Financial and business terms

  • Keen's — Mustard is a brand that has existed since 1742 [http://www.britishempire.co.uk/media/advertising/keensmustardpack.htm] . The original maker, Keen Sons in England, became Keen Robinson Company, then was acquired in 1903 by rival mustard maker… …   Wikipedia

  • Keen — steht für: Commander Keen, Computerspiel Serie Keen (Schuhe), ein US amerikanischer Outdoor Schuhhersteller Keen ist der Nachname folgender Personen: Andrew Keen (* 1960), britisch amerikanischer Unternehmer, Autor und Internet Kritiker David… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • 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… …   English World dictionary

  • Keen'v — Nom Kevin Bonnet Naissance 31 janvier 1983 (1983 01 31) (28 ans) Rouen,  Franc …   Wikipédia en Français

  • keen on — (informal) 1. Devoted to 2. Fond of 3. Very interested in, esp romantically or sexually 4. Very desirous of • • • Main Entry: ↑keen * * * keen on 1 : very excited about and interested in (something) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Keen — may refer to the following:Video games* Commander Keen series, a video game series * Keening , the legendary sword in the video game , see Kagrenac s Tools Other * Keen Engineering * Keen Footwear See also * Keene * Keane * Keening the… …   Wikipedia

  • keen\ on — • keen about • keen on adj. phr. Very enthusiastic about someone or something. It is well known that Queen Elizabeth is keen on horses …   Словарь американских идиом

  • keen — [adj1] enthusiastic agog, alert, animate, animated, anxious, appetent, ardent, athirst, avid, breathless, devoted, dying to*, eager, earnest, ebullient, fervent, fervid, fierce, fond of, gung ho*, impassioned, impatient, intense, intent,… …   New thesaurus

  • keen — Ⅰ. keen [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) eager; enthusiastic. 2) (keen on) interested in or attracted by. 3) (of a blade) sharp. 4) mentally acute or quick. 5) Brit. (of prices) very low; competitive …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”