keen

keen
keen1
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.
keen2
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; < Ir caoine (n.), caoin- (v., s. of caoinim) lament]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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