KEENS

Proper noun

Keens

plural of Keen

Anagrams

• Enkes, Skeen, Skene, knees, kènes, neeks, skene

Noun

keens

plural of keen

Verb

keens

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of keen

Anagrams

• Enkes, Skeen, Skene, knees, kènes, neeks, skene

Source: Wiktionary


KEEN

Keen, a. [Compar. Keener; superl. Keenest.] Etym: [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS.c bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. kühn, OSw. kyn, kön, Icel. kænn, for koenn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able.

1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge. A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene. Chaucer. That my keen knife see not the wound it makes. Shak.

2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features. To make our wits more keen. Shak. Before the keen inquiry of her thought. Cowper.

3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm. Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses. Shak.

4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc, ; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen. Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes. Goldsmith.

5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. "Of full kene will." Piers Plowman. So keen and greedy to confound a man. Shak.

Note: 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.

Definition: To sharpen; to make cold. [R.] Cold winter keens the brightening flood. Thomson.

Keen, n. Etym: [Ir. caoine.]

Definition: A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach. [Ireland] Froude.

Keen, v. i.

Definition: To wail as a keener does. [Ireland]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

17 June 2025

RECREANT

(adjective) having deserted a cause or principle; “some provinces had proved recreant”; “renegade supporters of the usurper”


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Coffee Trivia

Plain brewed coffee contains almost no calories, while coffee with dairy products, sugar, and other flavorings is much higher in calories. An espresso has 20 calories. A nonfat latte has 72, while a flavored one has 134.

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