different between firm vs keen
firm
English
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /f??m/, [f?m]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /f??m/
- Rhymes: -??(?)m
Etymology 1
From Italian firma (“signature”), from firmare (“to sign”), from Latin firmare (“to make firm, to confirm (by signature)”), from firmus (“firm, stable”). The contemporary sense developed in the 18th century simultaneously with German Firma (“business, name of business”). There are conflicting statements in the literature as to which of the two languages influenced which.
Noun
firm (plural firms)
- (Britain, business) A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
- (business, economics) A business enterprise, however organized.
- (slang) A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.
Derived terms
- The Firm
Translations
Etymology 2
From Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus (“strong, steady”). Doublet of dharma.
Adjective
firm (comparative firmer, superlative firmest)
- Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)
- Fixed (in opinion)
- He was firm that selling his company would a good choice and didn't let anyone talk him out of it.
- Durable, rigid (material state)
- firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
firm (third-person singular simple present firms, present participle firming, simple past and past participle firmed)
- (transitive) To make firm or strong; fix securely.
- (transitive) To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.
- (intransitive) To become firm; stabilise.
- (intransitive) To improve after decline.
- (intransitive, Australia) To shorten (of betting odds).
- (transitive, Britain, slang) To select (a higher education institution) as one's preferred choice, so as to enrol automatically if one's grades match the conditional offer.
Translations
Further reading
- Firm in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
Anagrams
- FRIM, fMRI, frim
German
Etymology
From Latin firmus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /f??m/
Adjective
firm (comparative firmer, superlative am firmsten)
- (somewhat dated) experienced, well versed
Declension
Further reading
- “firm” in Duden online
Polish
Noun
firm f
- genitive plural of firma
Zoogocho Zapotec
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Spanish firma.
Noun
firm
- signature
Derived terms
- chgo?o firm
- cho?o firm
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Spanish firme.
Adjective
firm
- firm, fixed
References
- Long C., Rebecca; Cruz M., Sofronio (2000) Diccionario zapoteco de San Bartolomé Zoogocho, Oaxaca (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 38)?[2] (in Spanish), second electronic edition, Coyoacán, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., pages 220
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keen
English
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ki?n/
- (General American) enPR: k?n, IPA(key): /kin/
- Rhymes: -i?n
- Homophones: Keane, Keene
Etymology 1
From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English c?ne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful; learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *k?niz (“knowledgeable, skilful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *?neh?- (“to know”). Cognate with Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Dutch kien (“smart, wise, able”), koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”), Scots keen (“lively, brisk; avaricious”). Related to Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). More at cunning, can.
Alternative forms
- keene, kene (both obsolete)
Adjective
keen (comparative keener or more keen, superlative keenest or most keen)
- (chiefly Commonwealth of Nations) Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
- 2000, Jane Green, Bookends, London: Penguin Books, ?ISBN; republished as Bookends: A Novel, trade paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Broadway Books, 2003, ?ISBN, page 304:
- In fact, she doesn't mention the fact that I've obviously been avoiding her, just sounds genuinely thrilled to hear from me, and as soon as I mention getting together she suggests Monday, which is rather keen, even for Portia.
- 2000, Jane Green, Bookends, London: Penguin Books, ?ISBN; republished as Bookends: A Novel, trade paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Broadway Books, 2003, ?ISBN, page 304:
- Fierce, intense, vehement.
- Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
- Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
- Acrimonious, bitter, piercing.
- Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.
- 1764 December 19 (indicated as 1765), Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller, or a Prospect of Society. A Poem. Inscribed to the Rev. Henry Goldsmith, London: Printed for J[ohn] Newbery, ?OCLC; 3rd edition, London: Printed for J. Newbury,[sic, meaning Newbery] in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1765, ?OCLC, page 10:
- Chearful at morn he wakes from ?hort repo?e, / Brea?ts the keen air, and carolls as he goes; […]
- 1764 December 19 (indicated as 1765), Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller, or a Prospect of Society. A Poem. Inscribed to the Rev. Henry Goldsmith, London: Printed for J[ohn] Newbery, ?OCLC; 3rd edition, London: Printed for J. Newbury,[sic, meaning Newbery] in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1765, ?OCLC, page 10:
- (Britain) Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.
- (US, informal, dated) Marvelous.
- (obsolete) Brave, courageous; audacious, bold.
Usage notes
Keen is often used to create compounds, the meaning of most of them being fairly obvious, for example, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen-sighted, keen-witted, etc.
Synonyms
- (showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness): ardent, eager, prompt
- (having a fine edge or point): sharp
- (acrimonious): biting, cutting, piercing
- (acute of mind): acute, penetrating, shrewd; see also Thesaurus:intelligent
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
keen (third-person singular simple present keens, present participle keening, simple past and past participle keened)
- (transitive, rare) To make cold, to sharpen.
- 1730, James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, A Hymn, A Poem to the Memory of Sir Isaac Newton, and Britannia, a Poem, London, Printed for J. Millan, near Whitehall; and A[ndrew] Millar, in the Strand, ?OCLC; republished in The Works of James Thomson. With His Last Corrections and Improvements. In Four Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for A. Millar, in the Strand, 1766, ?OCLC, page 93, lines 1256–1259:
- This is the pure?t exerci?e of health, / The kind refre?her of the ?ummer-heats; / Nor, when cold Winter keens the brightening flood, / Would I weak-?hivering linger on the brink.
- 1730, James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, A Hymn, A Poem to the Memory of Sir Isaac Newton, and Britannia, a Poem, London, Printed for J. Millan, near Whitehall; and A[ndrew] Millar, in the Strand, ?OCLC; republished in The Works of James Thomson. With His Last Corrections and Improvements. In Four Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for A. Millar, in the Strand, 1766, ?OCLC, page 93, lines 1256–1259:
Etymology 2
From Irish caoin (“to cry, weep; to keen”).
Noun
keen (plural keens)
- A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
Verb
keen (third-person singular simple present keens, present participle keening, simple past and past participle keened)
- (intransitive) To utter a keen.
- 20th century, Stuart Howard-Jones (1904–1974), “Hibernia”, in Kingsley Amis, comp., The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 1978, ?ISBN, page 243:
- Last night he had put down too much Potheen / (A vulgar blend of Methyl and Benzene) / That, at some Wake, he might the better keen. / (Keen—meaning 'brisk'? Nay, here the Language warps: / 'Tis singing bawdy Ballads to a Corpse.)
- 20th century, Stuart Howard-Jones (1904–1974), “Hibernia”, in Kingsley Amis, comp., The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 1978, ?ISBN, page 243:
- (transitive) To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.
- (transitive) To mourn.
Related terms
- keener
References
Anagrams
- Enke, kene, knee, kène, neek
Basque
Noun
keen
- genitive plural of ke
Hunsrik
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /k?e?n/
Particle
keen
- no, not any, not a
Declension
1Form used when the plural of the noun is the same as the singular
Further reading
- Online Hunsrik Dictionary
Luxembourgish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ke?n/
- Rhymes: -e?n
Particle
keen m or n
- no, not any, not a
Declension
Somali
Verb
keen
- bring
Yola
Etymology
From Middle English kene, from Old English c?ne.
Adjective
keen
- sharp
References
- Jacob Poole (1867) , William Barnes, editor, A glossary, with some pieces of verse, of the old dialect of the English colony in the baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, J. Russell Smith, ?ISBN
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