keen´ness

keen´ness
keen1 «keen», adjective.
1. so shaped as to cut well: »

a keen blade.

2. sharp; cutting; piercing; intense: »

a keen wind, keen hunger, keen pain, Figurative. keen wit.

 SYNONYM(S): penetrating, biting, bitter.
3. strong; vivid: »

keen competition.

4. Figurative. able to do its work quickly and exactly; able to perceive well: »

a keen mind, a keen sense of smell. She had usually a keen sense of the ludicrous (Bret Harte).

 SYNONYM(S): acute. See syn. under sharp. (Cf. ↑sharp)
5. full of enthusiasm; eager: »

He is keen about canoeing. Never did I know a creature…So keen and greedy to confound a man (Shakespeare).

 SYNONYM(S): ardent. See syn. under eager. (Cf. ↑eager)
6. Slang. wonderful; perfect.
╂[Old English cēne]
–keen´ly, adverb.
–keen´ness, noun.
keen2 «keen», noun, verb.
–n.
a wailing lament for the dead.
–v.i.
to utter the keen or lamentation for the dead; wail; lament: »

I sat on the bed and keened to myself for a moment (Punch).

–v.t.
to bewail with keening or wailing: »

Isn't it a bitter thing to think of him floating that way…and no one to keen him but the black hags that do be flying on the sea? (John M. Synge).

╂[< Irish caoine < caoinim I cry]
–keen´er, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • keen´er — keen1 «keen», adjective. 1. so shaped as to cut well: »a keen blade. 2. sharp; cutting; piercing; intense: »a keen wind, keen hunger, keen pain, Figurative. keen wit. SYNO …   Useful english dictionary

  • keen´ly — keen1 «keen», adjective. 1. so shaped as to cut well: »a keen blade. 2. sharp; cutting; piercing; intense: »a keen wind, keen hunger, keen pain, Figurative. keen wit. SYNO …   Useful english dictionary

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  • ea´ger|ness — ea|ger1 «EE guhr», adjective. 1. wanting very much; desiring very strongly; anxious to do or get something: »The child is eager to have the candy. 2. characterized by or showing keenness of desire or strength of feeling: »eager looks, an eager… …   Useful english dictionary

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