keen
adjective
[ kiːn ]
• having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm.
• "a keen gardener"
Similar:
eager,
anxious,
impatient,
determined,
desirous,
longing,
wishing,
itching,
dying,
yearning,
ambitious,
ready,
intent on,
raring,
enthusiastic,
avid,
ardent,
passionate,
fervent,
fervid,
impassioned,
wholehearted,
zestful,
zealous,
driven,
willing,
conscientious,
committed,
dedicated,
diligent,
earnest,
industrious,
assiduous,
intent,
• (of a sense) highly developed.
• "I have keen eyesight"
Similar:
acute,
sharp,
penetrating,
discerning,
sensitive,
perceptive,
piercing,
clear,
observant,
powerful,
• (of the edge or point of a blade) sharp.
• "the keen blade went through the weeds"
• (of activity or feeling) intense.
• "there could be keen competition to provide the service"
Similar:
intense,
acute,
extreme,
fierce,
violent,
passionate,
consuming,
burning,
fervent,
fervid,
ardent,
strong,
powerful,
profound,
deep-seated,
• excellent.
• "I would soon fly to distant stars—how keen!"
Origin:
Old English cēne ‘wise, clever’, also ‘brave, daring’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koen and German kühn ‘bold, brave’. Current senses date from Middle English.
keen
verb
• wail in grief for a dead person.
• "the body of Johnny was taken by his own people who keened over him"
Similar:
lament,
mourn,
weep,
cry,
sob,
sorrow,
grieve,
wail,
moan,
whine,
whimper,
groan,
howl,
greet,
plain,
ululate,
keen
noun
• an Irish funeral song accompanied by wailing in lamentation for the dead.
Origin:
mid 19th century: from Irish caoinim ‘I wail’.
