keelvat

[KEELFAT.] keen, *kene, a. [A.S. céne = knowing, wise, from the same root as IMG:content-0205.png:[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small] ken, con, can; cogn. with Dut. koen =bold, stout; Icel. kænn = wise; O. H. Ger. chuoni , kuani; M. H. Ger. kuene; Ger, kühn =bold.] 1. Sharp, well-edged; having a sharp or fine edge. "He drew his bow with arrowes sharpe and kene ." Wyatt: The Louer Complain eth. 2. Sharp in intellect; acute of mind; penetrating, far-seeing. "Even a keen and strong intellect might be expected to rust in so unfavorable a situation." -Macaulay: Hist. Eng ., ch. iii. 3. Biting, sharp, piercing, severe, penetrating, cutting. "The keenest frost that binds the stream." Cowper: To the Rev. Mr. Newton. 4. Eager, sharp; as, a keen appetite. 5. Sharp, searching, close. "Their weekly frauds his keen replies detect." Tate: Absalom and Achitophel , ii. 1,033. 6. Eager, vehement, fierce. "Where the Douglas true, and the bold Buccleuch, 'Gainst keen Lord Evers stood." 7. Eager, anxious longing. Scott : Eve of St. John. "Never did I know A creature, that did bear the shape of man, So keen and greedy to confound a man." Shakesp.: Merchant of Venice , iii. 2. 8. Biting, sharp, bitter, acrimonious. "She's angry, she's keen and shrewd." Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream, iii. 2. 9. Expre ive of eagerne or mental sharpne . "They were listened to by high and low with the keen est enjoyment." -Tylor : Early History of Mankind, ch. i. 10. Painful, strong; as, a keen pain. keen-edged, a. Having a sharp edge. "I am prepared; here is my keen - edged sword." Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt . I., i. 2. keen-eyed, a. Having sharp, piercing eyes. "Grave without dullne , learned without pride, Exact, yet not precise, though meek, keen-eyed." Cowper: Conversation , 610. *keen (1), v. t. [KEEN, a.] To make keen or sharp; to sharpen. "Nor when cold winter keens the brightening flood, Would I, weak-shivering, linger on the brink." Thomson: Summer , 1,259.