Have you heard of/used keen as a verb? I have not, and wondered if I just hadn't come across it - or - if it is more a British use as certainly the adjective is. This was the sentence in a book I am reading: "Maria stood in the hallway kneading her skirt in her hands and keening bitterly." She had lost all her belongings.

It's not an everyday word but I've seen it often enough in literature.

a powerful word, perhaps more so because we don't come across it that often (which is appropriate).

Yep, I've seen and heard it.

So, Geoff, you've heard it and seen it used like that? Interesting, because I never have.

The two meanings have totally different origins. The verb comes from the Irish caoinim "I weep, wail, lament" whereas the adjective is from Old English cene "bold, brave". See http://www.etymonline.com/inde...n&allowed_in_frame=0

It's right up there with ullulating. Mostly read it in literature.

So, Z, have ululately?

Good to see you here again! It gets lonely without you.

That's a great word, too! I wonder why some words are used more in literature than in everyday talk, be it formal or informal. This book that I was reading was published in 2014, so it wasn't old.

Arnie, thanks for the explanation. Otherwise it just didn't make sense.