Keener

[keen] /kin/

adjective, 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 followed by about, on, etc., or an infinitive):
She is really keen on going swimming.
8.
Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
/ˈkiːnə/
noun
1.
(Canadian, informal) a person, esp a student, who is keen, enthusiastic, or zealous
/kiːn/
adjective
1.
eager or enthusiastic
2.
(postpositive) foll by on. fond (of); devoted (to): keen on a girl, keen on golf
3.
intellectually acute: a keen wit
4.
(of sight, smell, hearing, etc) capable of recognizing fine distinctions
5.
having a sharp cutting edge or point
6.
extremely cold and penetrating: a keen wind
7.
intense or strong: a keen desire
8.
(mainly Brit) extremely low so as to be competitive: keen prices
9.
(slang, mainly US & Canadian) very good
/kiːn/
verb (intransitive)
1.
to lament the dead
noun
2.
a dirge or lament for the dead
adj.

c.1200, from Old English cene “bold brave,” later “clever, wise,” from Proto-Germanic *kan- “be able to” (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both “brave” and “skilled;” cognate with Old Norse kænn “skillful, wise,” Middle Dutch coene “bold,” Dutch koen, Old High German kuon “pugnacious, strong,” German kühn “bold, daring.” Sense of “eager” is from mid-14c. The meaning “sharp” is peculiar to English: of blades and edges early 13c., of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.
v.

“lament,” 1811, from Irish caoinim “I weep, wail, lament,” from Old Irish coinim “I wail.” Related: Keened; keening. As a noun from 1830.

adjective

Excellent; wonderful; neat: I think she’s a keen kid/ ”Keen?” Blanche said. ”I haven’t heard that word in 20 years” (1900+ Teenagers & students)

Related Terms

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