Keen — Defs

01 a. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.

1.
Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.
“A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene.” — Chaucer.

“That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.” — Shak.
2.
Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.
“To make our wits more keen.” — Shak.

“Before the keen inquiry of her thought.” — Cowper.
3.
Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
“Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses.” — Shak.
4.
Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
“Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes.” — Goldsmith.
5.
Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
“So keen and greedy to confound a man.” — Shak.
6.
Wonderful; delightful; marvelous; as, that would be keen.[slang]

02 v. t. To sharpen; to make cold.

1.
To sharpen; to make cold.[R.]
“Cold winter keens the brightening flood.” — Thomson.

03 n. A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach.

04 v. i. To wail as a keener does.