keener

[keen] Origin

keen

1[keen]
adjective, keen·er, keen·est.
1.
finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
2.
sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind; keen satire.
3.
characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes; keen ears.
4.
having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning; a keen mind.
5.
animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
EXPAND
6.
intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
7.
eager; interested; enthusiastic (often followed by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
8.
Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
COLLAPSE

Origin:
before 900; 1930–35 for def. 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni bold, Old Norse kœnn wise, skillful

keen·ly, adverb
keen·ness, noun


1, 4. See sharp. 2. cutting, bitter, caustic. 3. piercing, penetrating, acute. 4. discerning, acute, astute, sagacious, shrewd, clever. 5. See avid. 7. earnest, fervid.


1, 3, 4. dull.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Keener is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
keen2 (kiːn)
 
vb
1.  to lament the dead
 
n
2.  a dirge or lament for the dead
 
[C19: from Irish Gaelic caoine, from Old Irish coīnim I wail]
 
'keener2
 
n

keener (ˈkiːnə)
 
n
informal (Canadian) a person, esp a student, who is keen, enthusiastic, or zealous

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

keen
"lament," 1811, from Ir. caoinim "I weep, wail, lament," from O.Ir. coinim.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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