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Keen vs Violent - What's the difference?

keen | violent | Related terms |

Keen is a related term of violent.


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

is that keen is (obsolete) brave, courageous; bold, audacious while violent is (obsolete) an assailant.

As adjectives the difference between keen and violent

is that keen is showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense while violent is involving extreme force or motion.

As verbs the difference between keen and violent

is that keen is (rare) to sharpen; to make cold or keen can be to utter a keen while violent is (archaic) to urge with violence.

As nouns the difference between keen and violent

is that keen is a prolonged wail for a deceased person while violent is (obsolete) an assailant.

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

    * ----

    violent

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Involving extreme force or motion.
    • A violent wind ripped the branch from the tree.
  • Involving physical conflict.
    • We would rather negotiate, but we will use violent means if needed.
  • Likely to use physical force.
    • The escaped prisoners are considered extremely violent .
  • Intensely vivid.
    • The artist expressed his emotional theme through violent colors.
  • (obsolete) Produced or effected by force; not spontaneous; unnatural.
  • * Shakespeare
    • These violent delights have violent ends.
  • * T. Burnet
    • No violent state can be perpetual.
  • * Milton
    • Ease would recant / Vows made in pain, as violent and void.

    Antonyms

    * peaceful

    Related terms

    * violence

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To urge with violence.
    • (Fuller)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An assailant.
    • ----