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keening. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
keening, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
keening in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
keening you have here. The definition of the word
keening will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
keening, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From keen + -ing, from Irish caoin.
Adjective
keening (not comparable)
- Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound.
The keening sound of a dentist's drill sets my teeth on edge.
Noun
keening (countable and uncountable, plural keenings)
- Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake.
1988, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions, Faber & Faber Limited (2021), page 85:Keening. I remember keening that seemed to go on all through the night: shrill, sharp, shiny, needles of sound piercing cleanly and deeply to let the anguish in, not out.
- (by extension) An unpleasant wailing sound.
Translations
Verb
keening
- present participle and gerund of keen
Anagrams