Langimage
English

keenly-developed

|keen-ly-de-vel-oped|

C1

/ˈkiːnli dɪˈvɛləpt/

intensely advanced

Etymology
Etymology Information

'keenly-developed' originates from the combination of 'keenly' and 'developed'. 'Keenly' comes from the Old English 'cēne', meaning 'brave' or 'wise', and 'developed' from the French 'développer', meaning 'to unfold'.

Historical Evolution

'Keenly' evolved from the Old English 'cēne' to the modern English 'keenly', while 'developed' transformed from the French 'développer' to the modern English 'developed'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, 'keenly' meant 'brave' or 'wise', but over time it evolved to mean 'intensely' or 'sharply'. 'Developed' has largely retained its meaning of 'unfolded' or 'advanced'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

having a sharp or intense level of development or perception.

The detective had a keenly-developed sense of observation.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/05/06 00:52