ken

¹

[ ken ]

noun

1. knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perception:

   an idea beyond one's ken.

2. range of sight or vision.

verb (used with object)

, kenned or kent, ken·ning.

1. Chiefly Scot.
   1. to know, have knowledge of or about, or be acquainted with (a person or thing).
   2. to understand or perceive (an idea or situation).
2. Scots Law. to acknowledge as heir; recognize by a judicial act.
3. Archaic. to see; descry; recognize.
4. British Dialect, Archaic.
   1. to declare, acknowledge, or confess (something).
   2. to teach, direct, or guide (someone).

verb (used without object)

, kenned or kent, ken·ning.

1. British Dialect.
   1. to have knowledge of something.
   2. to understand.

Ken

²

[ ken ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Kendall or Kenneth.

Ken.

³

abbreviation for

1. Kentucky.

Ken.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Kentucky

ken

²

/ kɛn /

noun

1. range of knowledge or perception (esp in the phrases beyond or in one's ken )

verb

1. dialect.
   to know
2. dialect.
   to understand; perceive
3. archaic.
   tr to see

Word History and Origins

Origin of ken¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English kennen “to make known, see, know,” Old English cennan “to make known, declare”; cognate with Old Norse kenna, German kennen; akin to can ¹, know ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ken¹

Old English cennan; related to Old Norse kenna to perceive, Old High German kennen to make known; see can ¹

Example Sentences

Both Ken and Sarah Burns joined me on Vox Conversations for a fascinating discussion about their latest film, its subject, and the art of documentary storytelling.

From Vox

“We have found Philip Glass at high volume tranquilizes both dogs quite nicely,” wrote Ken.

From Washington Post

It’s the summer of 2020, and we’re at the Center for Whale Research, which is also Ken’s house.

From Outside Online

Alexa Green, a Pittsfield local, describes Ken’s Bowl as a form of “security.”

From Eater

Omnibus has a fan group on Facebook, and back in January when Style did a huge front-page feature on Jennings after he won the Greatest of All Time tournament, I posted a photo there of the page, and Ken contacted me to get a copy of the original.

From Washington Post

Brooklyn district attorney Ken Thompson explained his decision to impanel a grand jury in a statement released Friday.

From The Daily Beast

You have mentioned in interview that Dale Eaglesham and Ken Lashley are joining you on the new Secret Six.

From The Daily Beast

So the plan is for Ken to draw an arc with Dale doing covers, and then Dale does an arc with Ken doing covers.

From The Daily Beast

In 1978, for instance, Hockney was introduced to a new printing method by the famed printer Ken Tyler.

From The Daily Beast

Ken Russell, the now sadly deceased British film director, told me he considered Jarman a visionary.

From The Daily Beast

Many things besides book-learning did Wang Ken teach his pupil.

From Project Gutenberg

Wang Ken improved this opportunity to tell Yung Pak how important it was that all boys should follow such an example.

From Project Gutenberg

"I'll bet yo 'un a hoss I ken put a ball through that Yank's heart at fifty paces," he roared.

From Project Gutenberg

It appears to be a Southern form, adopted here for the rime, like ken for kin in Book of the Duch.

From Project Gutenberg

Nelson specially delighted in Ken's morning, evening, and midnight hymns.

From Project Gutenberg