frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

astringent, biting, acrid, acrimonious, stinging, scorching,
caustic, searing, withering, virulent, pungent, sarcastic,
sardonic: This axe is very keen, so be careful. With his keen
wit, the playwright answered his severest critics. His play is a
keen satire on the government. 3 painful, bitter, acute,
poignant, fierce, grievous, severe, distressing, distressful,
strong, deep, profound, intense, extreme, heartfelt: She felt
keen resentment at the way she had been treated. 4 vivid,
detailed, specific, unmistaken, unmistakable or unmistakeable,
distinct: He has a keen recollection of seeing the suspect on
the bus. 5 sharp, acute, sensitive, penetrating,
discriminating, fine: The bloodhound has an extremely keen
sense of smell. 6 intelligent, sharp, acute, perceptive,
perspicacious, percipient, sensitive, discerning, astute, smart,
bright, discriminating, discriminative, quick(-witted), shrewd,
clever, canny, cunning, crafty, wise: Philip has a keen
understanding of what is required of him. 7 keen on or about.
fond of, enamoured of, devoted to, interested in: Alan is
almost as keen on Mary as on his stamp collection.
keený v. 1 weep, wail, moan, lament, mourn, grieve; bewail, bemoan:
Finnegan's widow still keens over him.
--n. 2 dirge, elegy, knell, lament, lamentation, Requiem,
monody, threnody, thanatopsis, epicedium , Scots and Irish
coronach: The keens could be heard throughout the
neighbourhood.
keep v. 1 retain, hold, hang on to, preserve, conserve, have, save,
maintain, control: The difficulty is not in making money but in
keeping it. 2 hold, have, take care or charge of, mind, tend,
care for, look after, guard, keep an eye on, watch over,
protect, safeguard; maintain, feed, nourish, victual, board,
nurture, provide for, provision: Would you keep this parcel for
me until I return? They keep chickens and ducks. 3 accumulate,
save (up), amass, hoard (up), husband, retain, preserve, put or
stow away: My brother has kept all the toys he ever had. 4
maintain, store, preserve: I keep woollen things in a cedar
chest. 5 Often, keep on or at. continue, carry on, persist
(in), persevere (in); prolong, sustain: How did you keep going
after Elsa's death? She kept at it all night long. Keep on
working till I tell you to stop. 6 keep to, abide by, follow,
obey, mind, adhere to, attend to, pay attention to, heed,