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keenness

 - 3 dictionary results

keen

1  [keen]
–adjective, -er, -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.
6. intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
7. eager; interested; enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
8. Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
Use keenness in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 900; 1930–35 for def. 8; ME kene, OE cēne; c. G kühn, OHG chuoni bold, ON kœnn wise, skillful

Related forms:
keenly, adverb
keenness, noun

Synonyms:
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.

Antonyms:
1, 3, 4. dull.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To keenness
keen 1   (kēn)   
adj.   keen·er, keen·est

  1. Having a fine, sharp cutting edge or point.

  2. Having or marked by intellectual quickness and acuity. See Synonyms at sharp.

  3. Acutely sensitive: a keen ear.

  4. Sharp; vivid; strong: "His entire body hungered for keen sensation, something exciting" (Richard Wright).

  5. Intense; piercing: a keen wind.

  6. Pungent; acrid: A keen smell of skunk was left behind.

    1. Ardent; enthusiastic: a keen chess player.

    2. Eagerly desirous: keen on going to Europe in the spring.

  8. Slang Great; splendid; fine: What a keen day!


[Middle English kene, from Old English cēne, brave.]
keen'ly adv., keen'ness n.
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

keen  (v.)
"lament," 1811, from Ir. caoinim "I weep, wail, lament," from O.Ir. coinim.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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