keen

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Very interested in or enthusiastic about something.

   I'm really keen on computers.

2. 2
   adj

   Quick to understand; intelligent and sharp.

   She has a keen mind and notices every detail.

3. 3
   adj

   Having a sharp edge or point.

   He sharpened the knife until it had a keen blade.

Common collocations

• keen sense Adjective + noun

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, skilful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”). Cognate with Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Dutch kien (“smart, wise, able”), koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”), Faroese kønur (“expert (in, on), experienced, skilful, able, capable”), Scots kee…

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