Keen

GRE TOEFL 考研

[编辑] 解释

I. adjective

Etymology: Middle English kene brave, sharp, from Old English cēne brave; akin to Old High German kuoni brave
Date: 13th century
1.
- a. having a fine edge or point ; sharp
- b. affecting one as if by cutting <keen sarcasm>
- c. pungent to the sense <a keen scent>
2.
- a.
  - (1) showing a quick and ardent responsiveness ; enthusiastic <a keen swimmer>
  - (2) eager <was keen to begin>
- b. of emotion or feeling intense <the keen delight in the chase — F. W. Maitland>
3.
- a. intellectually alert ; having or characteristic of a quick penetrating mind <a keen student><a keen awareness of the problem>; also shrewdly astute
- b. sharply contested <keen debate>
- c. extremely sensitive in perception <keen eyes>
4. wonderful, excellent
Synonyms: see sharp, eager
? keenly adverb
? keenness noun

II. noun

Date: 1830
a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry

III. verb

Etymology: Irish caoinim I lament, weep
Date: 1845
intransitive verb
- 1.
  - a. to lament with a keen
  - b. to make a sound suggestive of a keen
- 2. to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
transitive verb
- to utter by keening
? keener noun