keen

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• COUNT in NET: 2 in 2 verses (in OT : 2 in 2 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

keen, a. [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS. c bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. kÜhn, OSw. kyn, kön, Icel. kænn, for kœnn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able.

•  Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.  [1913 Webster]

  "A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene."  [1913 Webster]

  "That my keen knife see not the wound it makes."  [1913 Webster]
•  Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.  [1913 Webster]

  "To make our wits more keen."  [1913 Webster]

  "Before the keen inquiry of her thought."  [1913 Webster]
•  Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.  [1913 Webster]

  "Good father cardinal, cry thou amen
  To my keen curses."  [1913 Webster]
•  Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.  [1913 Webster]

  "Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes."  [1913 Webster]
•  Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.  Piers Plowman.  [1913 Webster]

  "So keen and greedy to confound a man."  [1913 Webster]
•  Wonderful; delightful; marvelous; as, that would be keen.  [PJC]

  " 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.

keen, v. t. 

 To sharpen; to make cold.  [1913 Webster]
"Cold winter keens the brightening flood."  [1913 Webster]

keen, n. [Ir. caoine.].

 A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach.  Froude.  [1913 Webster]

keen, v. i. 

 To wail as a keener does.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

keen, adj.
1 (of a person, desire, or interest) eager, ardent (a keen sportsman).
2 (foll. by on) much attracted by; fond of or enthusiastic about.
3 (of the senses) sharp; highly sensitive.
4 intellectually acute.
5 a having a sharp edge or point. b (of an edge etc.) sharp.
6 (of a sound, light, etc.) penetrating, vivid, strong.
7 (of a wind, frost, etc.) piercingly cold.
8 (of a pain etc.) acute, bitter.
9 Brit. (of a price) competitive.
10 colloq. excellent.

Derivative

keenly adv. keenness n.

keen, n. & v.
--n. an Irish funeral song accompanied with wailing.
--v.
1 intr. utter the keen.
2 tr. bewail (a person) in this way.
3 tr. utter in a wailing tone.

Derivative

keener n.

Etymology

Ir. caoine f. caoinim wail

THESAURUS

keen

Attic, OK, Siberian, ablaze, absorbing, ace-high, acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulent, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, active, acute, adroit, afire, aggressive, agile, agog, alacritous, alert, algid, alive, all agog, animate, animated, anxious, apt, arctic, ardent, argute, asperous, astringent, astute, athirst, attentive, avid, awake, bad, bang-up, bark, bawl, bellow, below zero, bemoan, bewail, biting, bitter, bitterly cold, blare, blat, bleak, blubber, boiling over, bonzer, boom, boreal, boss, brainy, bray, breathe, breathless, bright, brilliant, brisk, brumal, buggy, bugs, bully, burning, bursting to, but good, buzz, cackle, canny, cant, caterwaul, caustic, chant, chirp, clever, cold, cold as charity, cold as death, cold as ice, cold as marble, coo, cool, cordial, corking, coronach, corroding, corrosive, crackerjack, crafty, creak, creaky, crisp, crow, cry, cunning, cutting, dandy, dead march, death knell, death song, deep, deep-felt, deepgoing, delicious, delirious, deplore, desirous, detailed, devoted, devoted to, dexterous, dirge, discerning, discriminating, discriminative, distinct, distressful, distressing, divine, dolorous tirade, double-edged, drastic, drawl, droll, drunk, ducky, dynamic, eager, ear-piercing, earnest, edged, elegize, elegy, enamored of, energetic, enterprising, enthusiastic, epicedium, escharotic, eulogy, excessive, excited, exclaim, excruciating, exorbitant, exquisite, extravagant, extreme, exuberant, fab, facetious, featheredged, febrile, fervent, fervid, fevered, feverish, fierce, fiery, fine, fine and dandy, fired, flaming, flushed, flute, fond of, forceful, forcible, forward, freezing, freezing cold, frigid, full of life, full of pep, funeral march, funeral oration, funeral song, funny, furious, gasp, gay, gear, gelid, gifted, give sorrow words, glacial, glorious, glowing, go-go, graveside oration, great, grieve, grievous, groan, groovy, growl, grunt, gung ho, harsh, heartfelt, hearty, heated, heavy, hibernal, hiemal, hiss, homefelt, hot, howl, howling, humorous, humorsome, hunky-dory, hyperborean, ice-cold, ice-encrusted, icelike, icy, immoderate, impassioned, impatient, impetuous, incisive, inclement, indelible, intelligent, intemperate, intense, intoxicated, irritating, itching, jam-up, jeremiad, jesting, jocose, jocular, joking, joky, joshing, just dandy, keen-edged, keen-witted, keening, kinetic, knell, knifelike, lament, lamentation, lilt, lively, living, lusty, marvy, mean, mettlesome, moan, monody, mordacious, mordant, mourn, muffled drums, mumble, murmur, mutter, neat, nifty, nimble, nimble-witted, nipping, nippy, no dumbbell, nobby, nose-tickling, not born yesterday, numbing, nutty, okay, on fire, on the, on the alert, on the ball, on the job, out of sight, outcry, outrageous, painful, pant, panting, passing bell, passionate, peachy, peachy-keen, penetrating, peppy, perceptive, percipient, perfervid, perspicacious, pervading, piercing, pinching, pipe, piping, piquant, plaint, planctus, poignant, pointed, profound, prompt, pungent, qui vive, quick, quick-thinking, quick-witted, rapier-like, raring to, raw, razor-edged, ready, ready and willing, red-hot, reedy, repine, requiem, rigorous, ripping, roar, robust, rough, rum, rumble, salt, salty, sarcastic, sardonic, scathing, scintillating, scorching, screak, screaky, scream, screech, screeching, screechy, scrumptious, searing, sensitive, set, severe, sharp, sharp-sighted, sharp-witted, sharpened, shrewd, shriek, shrieking, shrieky, shrill, sibilate, sigh, sing, sing the blues, skirl, skreigh, slap-up, sleepless, sleety, slushy, smacking, smart, smashing, snap, snappy, snarl, snort, sob, solid, something else, sorrow, sough, sour, spanking, sparkling, specific, spiffing, spiffy, spirited, splitting, sprightly, squall, squawk, squeak, squeaking, squeaky, squeal, stabbing, steaming, steamy, steel-trap, stinging, stone-cold, strenuous, strident, stringent, strong, stunning, subzero, supercooled, swell, take-charge, take-over, talented, tart, thin, thirsty, threnode, threnody, thunder, tirade, tough, trenchant, trumpet, twang, two-edged, ululant, ululate, ululation, unblinking, unconscionable, unmistakable, unmistaken, unnodding, unrestrained, unsleeping, unwinking, vehement, venomous, vibrant, vigorous, violent, virulent, vital, vitriolic, vivacious, vivid, wail, wail of woe, wailing, wakeful, warble, warm, weep, weep over, whimper, whimsical, whine, whining, whisper, whistle, whistling, wide-awake, winterbound, winterlike, wintery, wintry, wise, withering, witty, wizard, wrawl, yammer, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yowl, zealous, zestful, zesty, zippy

ROGET THESAURUS

keen

Feeling

N feeling, suffering, endurance, tolerance, sufferance, supportance, experience, response, sympathy, impression, inspiration, affection, sensation, emotion, pathos, deep sense, warmth, glow, unction, gusto, vehemence, fervor, fervency, heartiness, cordiality, earnestness, eagerness, empressement, gush, ardor, zeal, passion, enthusiasm, verve, furore, fanaticism, excitation of feeling, fullness of the heart, passion, ecstasy, blush, suffusion, flush, hectic, tingling, thrill, turn, shock, agitation, quiver, heaving, flutter, flurry, fluster, twitter, tremor, throb, throbbing, pulsation, palpitation, panting, trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry of spirits, pother, stew, ferment, state of excitement, feeling, sentient, sensuous, sensorial, sensory, emotive, emotional, of feeling, with feeling, warm, quick, lively, smart, strong, sharp, acute, cutting, piercing, incisive, keen, keen as a razor, trenchant, pungent, racy, piquant, poignant, caustic, impressive, deep, profound, indelible, deep felt, home felt, heartfelt, swelling, soul-stirring, deep-mouthed, heart-expanding, electric, thrilling, rapturous, ecstatic, earnest, wistful, eager, breathless, fervent, fervid, gushing, passionate, warm-hearted, hearty, cordial, sincere, zealous, enthusiastic, glowing, ardent, burning, red-hot, fiery, flaming, boiling over, pervading, penetrating, absorbing, rabid, raving, feverish, fanatical, hysterical, impetuous, impressed with, moved with, touched with, affected with, penetrated with, seized with, imbued with, devoured by, wrought up, struck all of a heap, rapt, in a quiver, enraptured, heart and soul, from the bottom of one's heart, ab imo pectore, at heart, con amore, heartily, devoutly, over head and ears, head over heels, the heart big, the heart full, the heart swelling, the heart beating, the heart pulsating, the heart throbbing, the heart thumping, the heart beating high, the heart melting, the heart overflowing, the heart bursting, the heart breaking, the heart goes out, a heart as big as all outdoors (sympathy).

Physical Energy

N energy, physical energy, force, power, keenness, intensity, vigor, strength, elasticity, go, high pressure, fire, rush, acrimony, acritude, causiticity, virulence, poignancy, harshness, severity, edge, point, pungency, cantharides, seasoning, activity, agitation, effervescence, ferment, fermentation, ebullition, splutter, perturbation, stir, bustle, voluntary energy, quicksilver, resolution, exertion, excitation, strong, energetic, forcible, active, intense, deep-dyed, severe, keen, vivid, sharp, acute, incisive, trenchant, brisk, rousing, irritation, poignant, virulent, caustic, corrosive, mordant, harsh, stringent, double-edged, double-shotted, double- distilled, drastic, escharotic, racy, potent, radioactive, strongly, fortiter in re, with telling effect, the steam is up, vires acquirit eundo, the race by vigor not by vaunts is won.

Desire

N desire, wish, fancy, fantasy, want, need, exigency, mind, inclination, leaning, bent, animus, partiality, penchant, predilection, propensity, willingness, liking, love, fondness, relish, longing, hankering, inkling, solicitude, anxiety, yearning, coveting, aspiration, ambition, vaulting ambition, eagerness, zeal, ardor, empressement, breathless impatience, overanxiety, impetuosity, appetite, appetition, appetence, appetency, sharp appetite, keenness, hunger, stomach, twist, thirst, thirstiness, drouth, mouthwatering, itch, itching, prurience, cacoethes, cupidity, lust, concupiscence, edge of appetite, edge of hunger, torment of Tantalus, sweet tooth, lickerish tooth, itching palm, longing eye, wistful eye, sheep's eye, greed, voracity, passion, rage, furore, mania, manie, inextinguishable desire, dipsomania, kleptomania, lover, amateur, votary, devotee, aspirant, solicitant, candidate, applicant, supplicant, cormorant, desideratum, want, a consummation devoutly to be wished, attraction, magnet, allurement, fancy, temptation, seduction, fascination, prestige, height of one's ambition, idol, whim, whimsy, whimsey, maggot, hobby, hobby-horse, Fortunatus's cap, wishing cap, wishing stone, wishing well, desirous, desiring, inclined, partial to, fain, wishful, optative, anxious, wistful, curious, at a loss for, sedulous, solicitous, craving, hungry, sharp-set, peckish, ravening, with an empty stomach, esurient, lickerish, thirsty, athirst, parched with thirst, pinched with hunger, famished, dry, drouthy, hungry as a hunter, hungry as a hawk, hungry as a horse, hungry as a church mouse, hungry as a bear, greedy, unsatisfied, unsated, unslaked, unsaturated, eager, avid, keen, burning, fervent, ardent, agog, all agog, breathless, impatient, bent on, intent on, set on, bent upon, intent upon, set upon, mad after, enrage, rabid, dying for, devoured by desire, aspiring, ambitious, vaulting, skyaspiring, high-reaching, desirable, desired, in demand, pleasing, appetizing, appetible, tantalizing, wistfully, fain, Int, would that, would that it were!, O for!, esto perpetual, the wish being father to the thought, sua cuique voluptas, hoc erat in votis, the mouth watering, the fingers itching, aut Caesar aut nullus, Cassius has a lean and hungry look, hungry as the grave, I was born to other things, not what we wish but what we want, such joy ambition finds, the sea hath bounds but deep desire hath none, ubi mel ibi apes.

Sharpness

N sharpness, acuity, acumination, spinosity, point, spike, spine, spicule, spiculum, needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin, prick, prickle, spur, rowel, barb, spit, cusp, horn, antler, snag, tag thorn, bristle, Adam's needle, bear grass, tine, yucca, nib, tooth, tusk, spoke, cog, ratchet, crag, crest, arete, cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille, spire, pyramid, steeple, beard, chevaux de frise, porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle, comb, awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed, cleavers, clivers, goose, grass, hairif, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel, heckle, wedge, knife edge, cutting edge, blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor, scalpel, bistoury, lancet, plowshare, coulter, colter, hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill, billhook, cleaver, cutter, scythe, sickle, scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter, sword, bodkin, belduque, bowie knife, paring knife, bushwhacker, drawing knife, drawing shave, microtome, chisel, screwdriver blade, flint blade, guillotine, sharpener, hone, strop, grindstone, whetstone, novaculite, steel, emery, sharp, keen, acute, acicular, aciform, aculeated, acuminated, pointed, tapering, conical, pyramidal, mucronate, mucronated, spindle shaped, needle shaped, spiked, spiky, ensiform, peaked, salient, cusped, cuspidate, cuspidated, cornute, cornuted, cornicultate, prickly, spiny, spinous, spicular, thorny, bristling, muricated, pectinated, studded, thistly, briary, craggy, snaggy, digitated, two-edged, fusiform, dentiform, denticulated, toothed, odontoid, starlike, stellated, stelliform, sagittate, sagittiform, arrowheaded, arrowy, barbed, spurred, acinaciform, apiculate, apiculated, aristate, awned, awny, bearded, calamiform, cone-shaped, coniform, crestate, echinate, gladiate, lanceolate, lanciform, awl, awl-shaped, lance-shaped, awl- shaped, scimitar-shaped, sword-shaped, setarious, spinuliferous, subulate, tetrahedral, xiphoid, cutting, sharp edged, knife edged, sharp as a razor, keen as a razor, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, sharpened, set.

Physical Sensibility

N physical sensibility, sensibility, sensitiveness, physical sensibility, feeling, impressibility, perceptivity, aesthetics, moral sensibility, sensation, impression, consciousness, external senses, sensible, sensitive, sensuous, aesthetic, perceptive, sentient, conscious, acute, sharp, keen, vivid, lively, impressive, thin-skinned, to the quick, the touch'd needle trembles to the pole.

Cold

N cold, coldness, frigidity, inclemency, fresco, winter, depth of winter, hard winter, Siberia, Nova Zembla, wind- chill factor, ice, snow, snowflake, snow crystal, snow drift, sleet, hail, hailstone, rime, frost, hoar frost, white frost, hard frost, sharp frost, barf, glaze, lolly, icicle, thick-ribbed ice, fall of snow, heavy fall, iceberg, icefloe, floe berg, glacier, nev_ee, serac, pruina, freezing mixture, dry ice, liquid nitrogen, liquid helium, chilliness, chill, shivering, goose skin, horripilation, rigor, chattering of teeth, numbness, frostbite, cold, cool, chill, chilly, icy, gelid, frigid, algid, fresh, keen, bleak, raw, inclement, bitter, biting, niveous, cutting, nipping, piercing, pinching, clay-cold, starved, chilled to the bone, shivering, aguish, transi de froid, frostbitten, frost-bound, frost-nipped, cold as a stone, cold as marble, cold as lead, cold as iron, cold as a frog, cold as charity, cold as Christmas, cool as a cucumber, cool as custard, icy, glacial, frosty, freezing, pruinose, wintry, brumal, hibernal, boreal, arctic, Siberian, hyemal, hyperborean, hyperboreal, icebound, frozen out, unwarmed, unthawed, lukewarm, tepid, isocheimal, isocheimenal, isocheimic, frozen, numb, frost-bitten, coldly, bitterly, pierre fendre.

Wisdom

N intelligence, wisdom, intelligence, capacity, comprehension, understanding, cuteness, sabe, savvy, intellect, nous, parts, sagacity, mother wit, wit, esprit, gumption, quick parts, grasp of intellect, acuteness, acumen, subtlety, penetration, perspicacy, perspicacity, discernment, due sense of, good judgment, discrimination, cunning, refinement, head, brains, headpiece, upper story, long head, eagle eye, eagle- glance, eye of a lynx, eye of a hawk, wisdom, sapience, sense, good sense, common sense, horse sense, plain sense, rationality, reason, reasonableness, judgment, solidity, depth, profundity, caliber, enlarged views, reach of thought, compass of thought, enlargement of mind, genius, inspiration, geist, fire of genius, heaven-born genius, soul, talent, prudence, vigilance, tact, foresight, sobriety, self-possession, aplomb, ballast, a bright thought, not a bad idea, Solomon-like wisdom, intelligent, quick of apprehension, keen, acute, alive, brainy, awake, bright, quick, sharp, quick witted, keen witted, clear witted, sharp-eyed, sharp sighted, sharp witted, wide- awake, canny, shrewd, astute, clear-headed, farsighted, discerning, perspicacious, penetrating, piercing, argute, quick-witted, nimble-witted, needle-witted, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, alive to, clever, arch, pas si bete, acute, wise, sage, sapient, sagacious, reasonable, rational, sound, in one's right mind, sensible, abnormis sapiens, judicious, strong- minded, unprejudiced, unbiased, unbigoted, unprepossessed, undazzled, unperplexed, unwarped judgment, impartial, equitable, fair, cool, cool-headed, long-headed, hardheaded, strong-headed, long- sighted, calculating, thoughtful, reflecting, solid, deep, profound, oracular, heaven-directed, heaven-born, prudent, sober, stand, solid, considerate, politic, wise in one's generation, watchful, provident, in advance of one' age, wise as a serpent, wise as Solomon, wise as Solon, wise, sensible, reasonable, judicious, well- thought-out, well-planned, well-judged, well-advised, prudent, politic, expedient, aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet, but with the morning cool reflection came, flosculi sententiarum, les affaires font les hommes, mas vale saber que haber, mas vale ser necio que profiadol nemo solus sapit, nosce te, gnothi seauton, nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit, sapere aude, victrix fortunae sapientia.

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