meaning of keen
1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.
2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.
3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc, ; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
6. To sharpen; to make cold.
7. A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach.
8. To wail as a keener does.
9. a funeral lament sung with loud wailing
Related Words
keen | keen-sighted | keener | keenly | keenness |
