keening

[ kee-ning ]
See synonyms for: keeningkeenings on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the act of a person who keens.

  2. a wailing lament for the dead; keen.

Origin of keening

1
First recorded in 1875–80; keen2 + -ing1

Words Nearby keening

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use keening in a sentence

  • I watched the tracking screen, listened to the high keening noises coming from the receivers.

    What Need of Man? | Harold Calin
  • keening in from the lake, the wind made him stagger backwards.

    The Spell of the White Sturgeon | James Arthur Kjelgaard
  • The neighbours keening along with me would be better to me than an estate.

    Seven Short Plays | Lady Gregory
  • "It is the wild Irish women keening over their dead," he remarked, with perfect unconcern.

    Guy Livingstone; | George A. Lawrence