Where does “keenness” come from?
Keenness derives from English keen, from Irish caoin, from Old Irish caín, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵneh₃-, with formative elements from Proto-Germanic -inōną.
keenness (English): sharpness or cutting ability; astuteness or...
Definitions
- sharpness or cutting ability; astuteness or...
Ancestry of “keenness”, step by step
keenness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English keen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | keen | Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and... |
| 2 | Irish | caoin | smooth, delicate, polished; kind, gentle,... |
| 3 | Middle Irish | caín | smooth finished side; "especially" the outer... |
| 4 | Old Irish | caín | fine, good; fair, beautiful |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | *kanis | nice, good |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |