keen

English

/kiːn/, /kin/

adj
Definitions
  • (chiefly) Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to (to) and an : showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
  • Fierce, intense, vehement.
  • Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
  • Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
  • Acrimonious, bitter, piercing.
  • Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.
  • (Britain) Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.
  • (US) Marvelous.
  • (obsolete) Brave, courageous; audacious, bold.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English kene (boldAdjective, braveAdjective, bold) inherited from Old English cēne (learnedAdjective, wiseAdjective, warlike, powerful, keen, fierce, clever, bold, learned, brave) derived from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (clever, brave, knowledgeable, bold, capable, experienced, skilful) derived from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (know, recognize).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*ǵneh₃-

Gloss

know, recognize

Concept
Semantic Field

Cognition

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

知

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms