Antonyms for keened


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : keen
Phonetic Transcription : kin


Definition of keened

Origin :
  • c.1200, from Old English cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from Proto-Germanic *kan- "be able to" (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "skilled;" cognate with Old Norse kænn "skillful, wise," Middle Dutch coene "bold," Dutch koen, Old High German kuon "pugnacious, strong," German kühn "bold, daring." Sense of "eager" is from mid-14c. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to English: of blades and edges early 13c., of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.
  • As in howl : noun long, painful cry
  • As in moan : verb groan, complain
  • As in mourn : verb be sad over loss
  • As in wail : verb cry loudly
  • As in weep : verb cry
  • As in ululate : verb howl
  • As in cry : verb weep and make sad sounds
  • As in grieve : verb mourn, feel deep distress
  • As in groan : verb moan, complain
Example sentences :
  • And then Brigit came and keened her son with shrieking and with crying.
  • Extract from : « Gods and Fighting Men » by Lady I. A. Gregory
  • And they buried him, and put a flag-stone over his grave, and keened him there.
  • Extract from : « Gods and Fighting Men » by Lady I. A. Gregory
  • On other rolls, she keened and chanted oddly to herself, eyes closed, and pinched down most of the stock.
  • Extract from : « Vigorish » by Gordon Randall Garrett
  • Pheola moaned, then keened, and waved her hands in front of her face, as if to ward off a swarm of bees.
  • Extract from : « The Right Time » by Walter Bupp
  • From behind the first keened once more that ghastly and smothered escape of suffering, scarcely audible.
  • Extract from : « The Gray Mask » by Wadsworth Camp

Synonyms for keened

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019