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Keen vs Knee - What's the difference?

keen | knee |

In lang=en terms the difference between keen and knee

is that keen is to mourn while knee is to poke or strike with the knee.

As verbs the difference between keen and knee

is that keen is (rare) to sharpen; to make cold or keen can be to utter a keen while knee is (archaic) to kneel to.

As nouns the difference between keen and knee

is that keen is a prolonged wail for a deceased person while knee is in humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank.

As an adjective keen

is showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense.

keen

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . More at (l), (l).

Alternative forms

* keene, kene (archaic)

Adjective

(er)
  • showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense.
  • vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Of full keen will.
  • * (rfdate), Shakespeare
    • So keen and greedy to confound a man.
  • sharp; having a fine edge or point.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.
  • acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness.
  • * (rfdate),
    • To make our wits more keen .
  • * (rfdate),
    • Before the keen inquiry of her thought.
  • bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
  • * (rfdate)
    • Good father cardinal, cry thou amen to my keen curses.
  • piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc,; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes.
  • Enthusiastic
    • I'm keen to learn another language.
    I'm keen on learning another language.
    I'm keen on languages.
    I'm keen about learning languages.
    I'm keen for help.
    ''"Do you want to learn another language?" / "I'm keen ."
  • (US, informal, dated) Marvelous.
    • I just got this peachy keen new dress.
  • (UK) extremely low as to be competitive.
    • keen prices
  • (obsolete) brave, courageous; bold, audacious.
    • Usage notes
    * Keen is often used in the composition of words, most of which are of obvious signification; as, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen-sighted, keen-witted, etc.
    Synonyms
    * prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd. * See also
    Derived terms
    * keen-witted * keen as mustard * keen on * keenly * keenness

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (rare) To sharpen; to make cold.
  • * (rfdate), Thomson.
    • Cold winter keens the brightening flood.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
  • * '>citation

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To utter a keen.
  • * (rfdate) Stuart Howard-Jones (1904-1974), Hibernia.'' Collected in ''The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse, 1978.
    • Keen —meaning 'brisk'? Nay, here the Language warps:
    'Tis singing bawdy Ballads to a Corpse.
  • To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.
  • *
  • To mourn.
  • *
    • Related terms
    * keener * keeness

    Anagrams

    * ----

    knee

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank.
    • Penny was wearing a miniskirt, so she skinned her exposed knees when she fell.
  • In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in humans.
  • The part of a garment that covers the knee.
  • (shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.
  • * 1980 , Richard W. Unger, The Ship in the Medieval Economy 600-1600 , page 41
    • Deck beams were supported by hanging knees , triangular pieces of wood typically found underneath the timbers they are designed to support, but in this case found above them.
  • (archaic) An act of kneeling, especially to show respect or courtesy.
  • * circa'' 1605 , (William Shakepeare), ''(Timon of Athens) , Act III, scene iii, line 36
    • Give them title, knee , and approbation.
    To make a knee .
  • Any knee-shaped item or sharp angle in a line, "the knee of a graph", an inflection point.
  • A blow made with the knee; a kneeing.

    • Derived terms

    * down on one's knees * kneecap * kneejerk * kneel * kneepan * kneesies * knees-up

    Verb

    (d)
  • (archaic) To kneel to.
  • * 1605': I could as well be brought / To '''knee his throne and, squire-like, pension beg / To keep base life afoot. — William Shakespeare, ''King Lear II.ii
  • To poke or strike with the knee.

    • Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words