keen
Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
Adjective 4 meanings
Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
“I’m keen on computers.”
Fierce, intense, vehement.
“This boy has a keen appetite.”
Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
Noun 1 meaning
A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
Verb 3 meanings
To utter a keen.
To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.
To mourn.
Etymology
From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English cēne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful; learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (“knowledgeable, skilful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”).
Similar and opposite words
KEEN at a glance
KEEN has 4 letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble (K 5 + E 1 + E 1 + N 1) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,707 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with keen
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