Keen Definition
A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
Origin of Keen
-
From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English cēne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful, learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (“knowledgeable, skillful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenə-, *ǵnō- (“to know”). Cognate with Scots keen (“lively, brisk, avaricious”), Dutch koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”). Related to Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). More at cunning, can.
From Wiktionary
From Irish Gaelic caoineadh from caonim I lament from Old Irish caínim, coínim perhaps of Brittonic origin
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English kene from Old English cēne brave
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Irish caoin (“keen, weep, cry”).
From Wiktionary
Keen Is Also Mentioned In
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to keen using the buttons below.