KEEN

keen. Keen, a. sharp, fine, eager, severe; v.t. to sharpen

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Keen (kēn), a. [Compar. Keener (–ẽr); superl. Keenest.] [[OE. kene sharp, bold, AS. cēne bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. kühn, OSw. kyn, kön, Icel. kænn, for kœnn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able. √45. ]] 1. 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 bright and kene. Chaucer. That my keen knife see not the wound it makes. Shak. 2. 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. 3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses. Shak. 4. 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. 5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. “Of full kene will.” Piers Plowman.
So keen and greedy to confound a man. Shak. ☞ 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. Syn. — Prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.