KEENNESS

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does keenness mean? 

• KEENNESS (noun)
  The noun KEENNESS has 3 senses:

1. a quick and penetrating intelligence

2. a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

3. thinness of edge or fineness of point

  Familiarity information: KEENNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KEENNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A quick and penetrating intelligence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

acuity; acuteness; keenness; sharpness

Context example:

I admired the keenness of his mind

Hypernyms ("keenness" is a kind of...):

intelligence (the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "keenness"):

steel trap (an acute intelligence (an analogy based on the well-known sharpness of steel traps))

Derivation:

keen (having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

avidity; avidness; eagerness; keenness

Hypernyms ("keenness" is a kind of...):

enthusiasm (a feeling of excitement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "keenness"):

ardor; ardour; elan; zeal (a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Thinness of edge or fineness of point

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

keenness; sharpness

Hypernyms ("keenness" is a kind of...):

configuration; conformation; contour; form; shape (any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline))

Attribute:

sharp (having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "keenness"):

acuteness (the quality of having a sharp edge or point)

Derivation:

sharp (ending in a sharp point)

 Context examples 

“The old shikari’s nerves have not lost their steadiness, nor his eyes their keenness,” said he, with a laugh, as he inspected the shattered forehead of his bust.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He opened up his heart to Martin, showed with what keenness and with what enormous planning he had made the store.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The keenness of his hunger had departed.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It was inevitable that Milton’s Lucifer should be instanced, and the keenness with which Wolf Larsen analysed and depicted the character was a revelation of his stifled genius.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He seemed to use them rather as instruments to search other people's thoughts, than as agents to reveal his own: the which combination of keenness and reserve was considerably more calculated to embarrass than to encourage.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Edmund was too angry to speak; but Miss Crawford, looking for a moment with astonished eyes at Mrs. Norris, and then at Fanny, whose tears were beginning to shew themselves, immediately said, with some keenness, I do not like my situation: this place is too hot for me, and moved away her chair to the opposite side of the table, close to Fanny, saying to her, in a kind, low whisper, as she placed herself, Never mind, my dear Miss Price, this is a cross evening: everybody is cross and teasing, but do not let us mind them; and with pointed attention continued to talk to her and endeavour to raise her spirits, in spite of being out of spirits herself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)