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Devout vs Keen - What's the difference?

devout | keen | Related terms |

Devout is a related term of keen.


In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between devout and keen

is that devout is (obsolete) a devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion while keen is (obsolete) brave, courageous; bold, audacious.

As adjectives the difference between devout and keen

is that devout is devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious while keen is showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense.

As nouns the difference between devout and keen

is that devout is (obsolete) a devotee while keen is a prolonged wail for a deceased person.

As a verb keen is

(rare) to sharpen; to make cold or keen can be to utter a keen.

devout

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious.
  • * Bible, Acts x. 2
    • a devout man, and one that feared God
  • * Rogers
    • We must be constant and devout in the worship of God.
  • (archaic) Expressing devotion or piety.
    • devout''' sighs; '''devout''' eyes; a '''devout posture
  • Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest.
    • devout wishes for one's welfare

    Noun

    (s)
  • (obsolete) A devotee.
  • (obsolete) A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion.

    • References

    *

    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

    * ----