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Ken

 - 8 dictionary results

ken

  [ken] noun, verb, kenned or kent, ken⋅ning.
Use Ken in a Sentence
–noun
1. knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perception: an idea beyond one's ken.
2. range of sight or vision.
–verb (used with object)
3. Chiefly Scot.
a. to know, have knowledge of or about, or be acquainted with (a person or thing).
b. to understand or perceive (an idea or situation).
4. Scots Law. to acknowledge as heir; recognize by a judicial act.
5. Archaic. to see; descry; recognize.
6. British Dialect Archaic.
a. to declare, acknowledge, or confess (something).
b. to teach, direct, or guide (someone).
–verb (used without object)
7. British Dialect.
a. to have knowledge of something.
b. to understand.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME kennen to make known, see, know, OE cennan to make known, declare; c. ON kenna, G kennen; akin to can 1

Ken

  [ken]
–noun
a male given name, form of Kendall or Kenneth.

Ken.

 
Kentucky.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Ken
ken   (kěn)   
n.  

  1. Perception; understanding: complex issues well beyond our ken.

    1. Range of vision.

    2. View; sight.

v.   kenned or kent (kěnt), ken·ning, kens Scots

v.   tr.

  1. To know (a person or thing).

  2. To recognize.

v.   intr.
To have knowledge or an understanding.

[From Middle English kennen (influenced by Old Norse kenna, to know), from Old English cennan, to declare; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ken  (v.)
"to know," Scot. dial., from O.E. cennan "make known, declare, acknowledge," originally "make to know," causative of cunnan "to become acquainted with, to know" (see can (v.)). The noun meaning "range of sight" (1590) is a nautical abbreviation of kenning.

ken  (n.)
"house where thieves meet," 1567, vagabonds' slang, probably a shortening of kennel.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Computing Dictionary

ken
/ken/ 1. Ken Thompson
2. A flaming user. This was originated by the Software Support group at Symbolics because the two greatest flamers in the user community were both named Ken.
[The Jargon File]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Abbreviations & Acronyms
KEN
[National Mental Health Services] Knowledge Exchange Network
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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