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单词 keen
释义 keen
I. \ˈkēn\ adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English kene wise, bold, brave, sharp, from Old English cēne wise, bold, brave; akin to Old High German kuoni bold, strong, Middle Dutch coene bold, brave, Old Norse kœnn wise, skillful, clever, Old English cnāwan to know — more at know
1.
 a. : having a fine edge or point : sharp
  < a keen blade >
  < a keen sword >
 b. : affecting one as if by cutting : causing great distress to the mind or sensibilities
  < keen sarcasm >
  < a keen sense of guilt >
 c.
  (1) : affecting the senses or creating physical discomfort as if by cutting : penetrating, piercing
   < a keen wind >
   < keen, cold winters — Edith Hamilton >
   : stinging
   < a keen slap >
   : shrill
   < a high keen sound >
  (2) : sharp or pungent to the sense
   < a keen scent >
2.
 a. : characterized by intense interest, feeling, or desire : showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : eager, enthusiastic
  < a keen swimmer >
  < fiery and dominant natures, eager to conquer, keen to impress — A.C.Benson >
  < keen to go on a picnic >
  < both of them were keen on skiing >
  < very keen about the girl >
 also : giving evidence of such qualities
  < the features lean and keen from restless intellectual energy — J.A.Froude >
 b. of emotion or feeling : intense, great
  < a keen desire to be in the forefront of activity >
  < the keen delight in the chase — F.W.Maitland >
  < a keen personal interest in the boy >
  < the keen dread of the gods — M.R.Cohen >
3.
 a. : acute or quick and penetrating (as in mental power)
  < a keen mind >
  < keen in their bargain — H.E.Scudder >
  : intellectually sharp or incisive
  < a keen wit >
  < keen questions >
  : astute
  < keen businessmen — Gilbert Highet >
 also : giving evidence of astuteness or the play of alert or carefully calculating minds
  < keen competition >
  < debate was not as keen as it might have been — Winston Churchill >
 b. : extremely sensitive in perception or in perceiving distinctions
  < a keen eyesight >
  < a keen sense of smell >
 c. : marked by fine and extremely precise distinctions
  < keen refinements of logic >
4. of ice in curling : hard and clear
5. Britain, of a price : favorable to the purchaser : low
 < outfits for all ranks and services at very keen prices — Nautical Magazine >
6. slang : wonderful, desirable — a generalized expression of approval
Synonyms: see eager, sharp
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English kene, from kene, adjective
: keenly
 < businessmen keen set on practical affairs — J.W.Beach >
III. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: keen (I)
: to put a sharp edge on : sharpen
 < the cutting edge of the knife is first keened up — J.V.A.Long >
 < keen the razor — Christopher Morley >
IV. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Irish Gaelic caoinim (I) lament, from Old Irish coīnim
intransitive verb
1.
 a. : to wail or bewail with a keen
  < keened like a squaw bereft — Minnie H. Moody >
 b. : to make a sound suggesting a keen
  < the soft keening of the screech owls — A.W.Derleth >
  < the night was rent by keening sirens — Time >
  < the keening in the aerials rose to a witches' chorus — T.H.Raddall >
  < violins keened in the shadows — Albert Hubbell >
2. : to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
transitive verb
: to utter by keening
 < keened our sorrow — Punch >
V. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Irish Gaelic caoine
1.
 a. : a lamentation or dirge for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice
 b. : a rhythmic recounting of the life and character of a dead person or an exhortation to vengeance for his death — compare coronach
2. : a lamentation or cry of grief
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更新时间:2024/9/22 9:32:37