keen etymology

Etymology

The word "keen" derives from the Old English word "cēne," meaning "bold, brave, eager." It is related to the German "kühn," meaning "bold, daring," and the Old Norse "kænn," meaning "sharp, discerning."

Meaning

The word "keen" has multiple meanings, depending on the context:

• Sharp or cutting: A keen blade or intellect
• Eager or enthusiastic: Keen to learn or participate
• Severe or intense: A keen pain or disappointment
• Discerning or perceptive: A keen observer or critic
• Sad or sorrowful: A keen sense of loss

Origin

The origin of "keen" lies in the Indo-European root "*kei-," meaning "to sharpen, cut, or observe." This root is also found in other words such as:

• Knife (from the Old English word "cnīf")
• Know (from the Old English word "cnāwan")
• Can (from the Old English word "cann")

Usage

The word "keen" is commonly used in various contexts, including:

• To describe a person's character: A keen sense of adventure
• To express enthusiasm: Keen on trying something new
• To indicate severity: A keen pain or humiliation
• To describe someone's discernment: A keen eye for detail
• To convey sadness: A keen sense of regret

keen relate terms

• couth

  Etymology Old French cooth known familiar courteous Medieval Latin couthus kno

• uncouth

  Etymology The word uncouth comes from Middle English uncouthe which in turn origina

• could

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the evolut

• cunning

  Etymology The word cunning comes from the Old English word cunnan which means to k

• keenly

  Etymology The word keenly is derived from the Middle English word kene which means

• keen

  Etymology The word keen derives from the Old English word cēne meaning bold brave

• cutting

  Etymology The word cut originates from the Middle English term cuten which is deriv

• dandy

  Etymology The word dandy is derived from the Scottish dander meaning to strut abou

• strenuous

  Etymology Latin strenuus meaning active vigorous energetic Meaning Requirin

• akimbo

  Etymology From the Kongo Bantu language word nkumbu meaning one that is bent M

• eager

  Etymology The word eager comes from the Middle English word egre meaning sharp s

• congressman

  Etymology The word congressman is derived from the following sources Latin congres

• swell

  Etymology The word swell has multiple etymological origins Old English swellan t

• sorrow

  Etymology The word sorrow comes from the Old English word sorg which in turn derives

• acute

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word acutus meaning sharp pointed or keen Me