definitions

keening

[ kee-ning ]
/ ˈki nɪŋ /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR keening ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person who keens.
a wailing lament for the dead; keen.

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RELATED WORDS

grief, wailing, weeping, sobbing, sob, howl, lament, moan, growl, groan, yelp, wail, roar, whimper, hoot, outcry, shriek, sigh, carp, grumble

Nearby words

keen, keen about, be, keene, keene's cement, keener, keening, keep, keep a civil tongue in one's head, keep a low profile, keep a sharp lookout, keep a stiff upper lip

Origin of keening

First recorded in 1875–80; keen2 + -ing1

Definition for keening (2 of 2)

keen

2
[ keen ]
/ kin /

noun

a wailing lament for the dead.

verb (used without object)

to wail in lamentation for the dead.

verb (used with object)

to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing: keening his mother while kneeling at her grave.

Origin of keen

2
1805–15; < Irish caoine (noun), caoin- (v., stem of caoinim) lament

Related forms

keen·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for keening

British Dictionary definitions for keening (1 of 2)

keen

1
/ (kiːn) /

adjective

Derived Forms

keenly, adverbkeenness, noun

Word Origin for keen

Old English cēne; related to Old High German kuoni brave, Old Norse koenn wise; see can 1, know

British Dictionary definitions for keening (2 of 2)

keen

2
/ (kiːn) /

verb (intr)

to lament the dead

noun

a dirge or lament for the dead

Derived Forms

keener, noun

Word Origin for keen

C19: from Irish Gaelic caoine, from Old Irish coīnim I wail
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012