Keelvat - Kelvin

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Keelvat (kēlvăt), n. See .
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Keen (kēn), a. [Compar. Keener (kēnẽr); superl. Keenest.] [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS. cēne bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. kühn, OSw. kyn, kön, Icel. kænn, for kœnn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able. √45.] 1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.
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A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene. Chaucer.
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That my keen knife see not the wound it makes. Shak.
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2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.
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To make our wits more keen. Shak.
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Before the keen inquiry of her thought. Cowper.
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3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
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Good father cardinal, cry thou amen
To my keen curses. Shak.
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4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
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Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes. Goldsmith.
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5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. “Of full kene will.” Piers Plowman.
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So keen and greedy to confound a man. Shak.
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6. Wonderful; delightful; marvelous; as, that would be keen. [slang]
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☞ Keen is often used in the composition of words, most of which are of obvious signification; as, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen-sighted, keen-witted, etc.

Syn. -- Prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.
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Keen, v. t. To sharpen; to make cold. [R.]
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Cold winter keens the brightening flood. Thomson.
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Keen, n. [Ir. caoine.] A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. . [Ireland] Froude.
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Keen, v. i. To wail as a keener does. [Ireland]
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Keener (?), n. A professional mourner who wails at a funeral. [Ireland]
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Keenly, adv. In a keen manner.
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Keenness, n. The quality or state of being keen.
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Keep (kēp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kept (kĕpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Keeping.] [OE. kēpen, AS. cēpan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.]
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I kepe not of armes for to yelp [boast]. Chaucer.
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2. To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain.
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If we lose the field,
We can not keep the town. Shak.
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That I may know what keeps me here with you. Dryden.
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If we would weigh and keep in our minds what we are considering, that would instruct us. Locke.
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3. To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor.
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His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal. Milton.
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Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on. Addison.
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☞ In this sense it is often used with prepositions and adverbs, as to keep away, to keep down, to keep from, to keep in, out, or off, etc. “To keep off impertinence and solicitation from his superior.” Addison.
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4. To have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of.
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The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade. Knolles.
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5. To preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard.
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Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee. Gen. xxviii. 15.
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6. To preserve from discovery or publicity; not to communicate, reveal, or betray, as a secret.
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Great are thy virtues . . . though kept from man. Milton.
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7. To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend.
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And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. Gen. ii. 15.
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In her girlish age, she kept sheep on the moor. Carew.
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8. To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc.; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book.
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9. To maintain, as an establishment, institution, or the like; to conduct; to manage; as, to keep store.
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Like a pedant that keeps a school. Shak.
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Every one of them kept house by himself. Hayward.
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10. To supply with necessaries of life; to entertain; as, to keep boarders.
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11. To have in one's service; to have and maintain, as an assistant, a servant, a mistress, a horse, etc.
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I keep but three men and a boy. Shak.
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12. To have habitually in stock for sale.
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13. To continue in, as a course or mode of action; not to intermit or fall from; to hold to; to maintain; as, to keep silence; to keep one's word; to keep possession.
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Both day and night did we keep company. Shak.
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Within this portal as I kept my watch. Smollett.
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14. To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate; to practice or perform, as duty; not to neglect; to be faithful to.
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I have kept the faith. 2 Tim. iv. 7.
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Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command. Milton.
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15. To confine one's self to; not to quit; to remain in; as, to keep one's house, room, bed, etc.; hence, to haunt; to frequent. Shak.
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'Tis hallowed ground;
Fairies, and fawns, and satyrs do it keep. J. Fletcher.
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16. To observe duly, as a festival, etc.; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast.
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I went with them to the house of God . . . with a multitude that kept holyday. Ps. xlii. 4.
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Coloq. To keep at arm's length . See under , n. -- Coloq. To keep back . (a) To reserve; to withhold. “I will keep nothing back from you.” Jer. xlii. 4. (b) To restrain; to hold back. “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.” Ps. xix. 13. -- Coloq. To keep company with . (a) To frequent the society of; to associate with; as, let youth keep company with the wise and good. (b) To accompany; to go with; as, to keep company with one on a voyage; also, to pay court to, or accept attentions from, with a view to marriage. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. To keep counsel . See under , n. -- Coloq. To keep down . (a) To hold in subjection; to restrain; to hinder. (b) (Fine Arts) To subdue in tint or tone, as a portion of a picture, so that the spectator's attention may not be diverted from the more important parts of the work. -- Coloq. To keep good hours or Coloq. To keep bad hours , to be customarily early (or late) in returning home or in retiring to rest. -- Coloq. To keep house . (a) To occupy a separate house or establishment, as with one's family, as distinguished from boarding; to manage domestic affairs. (b) (Eng. Bankrupt Law) To seclude one's self in one's house in order to evade the demands of creditors. -- Coloq. To keep one's hand in , to keep in practice. -- Coloq. To keep open house , to be hospitable. -- Coloq. To keep the peace (Law), to avoid or to prevent a breach of the peace. -- Coloq. To keep school , to govern, manage and instruct or teach a school, as a preceptor. -- Coloq. To keep a stiff upper lip , to keep up one's courage. [Slang] -- Coloq. To keep term . (a) (Eng. Universities) To reside during a term. (b) (Inns of Court) To eat a sufficient number of dinners in hall to make the term count for the purpose of being called to the bar. [Eng.] Mozley & W. -- Coloq. To keep touch . See under , n. -- Coloq. To keep under , to hold in subjection; hence, to oppress. -- Coloq. To keep up . (a) To maintain; to prevent from falling or diminution; as, to keep up the price of goods; to keep up one's credit. (b) To maintain; to continue; to prevent from ceasing. “In joy, that which keeps up the action is the desire to continue it.” Locke.

Syn. -- To retain; detain; reserve; preserve; hold; restrain; maintain; sustain; support; withhold. -- To . , . Keep is the generic term, and is often used where retain or preserve would too much restrict the meaning; as, to keep silence, etc. Retain denotes that we keep or hold things, as against influences which might deprive us of them, or reasons which might lead us to give them up; as, to retain vivacity in old age; to retain counsel in a lawsuit; to retain one's servant after a reverse of fortune. Preserve denotes that we keep a thing against agencies which might lead to its being destroyed or broken in upon; as, to preserve one's health; to preserve appearances.
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Keep (?), v. i. 1. To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach.
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2. To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired.
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If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep. Mortimer.
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3. To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell. [Now disused except locally or colloquially.]
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Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps. Shak.
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4. To take care; to be solicitous; to watch. [Obs.]
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Keep that the lusts choke not the word of God that is in us. Tyndale.
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5. To be in session; as, school keeps to-day. [Colloq.]
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Coloq. To keep from , to abstain or refrain from. -- Coloq. To keep in with , to keep on good terms with; as, to keep in with an opponent. -- Coloq. To keep on , to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance. -- Coloq. To keep to , to adhere strictly to; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise. -- Coloq. To keep up , to remain unsubdued; also, not to be confined to one's bed.
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Keep, n. 1. The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge. Chaucer.
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Pan, thou god of shepherds all,
Which of our tender lambkins takest keep. Spenser.
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2. The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep.
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3. The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse.
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Grass equal to the keep of seven cows. Carlyle.
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I performed some services to the college in return for my keep. T. Hughes.
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4. That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the dungeon. See Illust. of .
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The prison strong,
Within whose keep the captive knights were laid. Dryden.
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The lower chambers of those gloomy keeps. Hallam.
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I think . . . the keep, or principal part of a castle, was so called because the lord and his domestic circle kept, abode, or lived there. M. A. Lower.
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5. That which is kept in charge; a charge. [Obs.]
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Often he used of his keep
A sacrifice to bring. Spenser.
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6. (Mach.) A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place.
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Coloq. To take keep , to take care; to heed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Keeper (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, keeps; one who, or that which, holds or has possession of anything.
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2. One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a prison and the charge of prisoners.
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3. One who has the care, custody, or superintendence of anything; as, the keeper of a park, a pound, of sheep, of a gate, etc.; the keeper of attached property; hence, one who saves from harm; a defender; a preserver.
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The Lord is thy keeper. Ps. cxxi. 6.
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4. One who remains or keeps in a place or position.
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Discreet; chaste; keepers at home. Titus ii. 5.
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5. A ring, strap, clamp, or any device for holding an object in place; as: (a) The box on a door jamb into which the bolt of a lock protrudes, when shot. (b) A ring serving to keep another ring on the finger. (c) A loop near the buckle of a strap to receive the end of the strap.
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6. A fruit that keeps well; as, the Roxbury Russet is a good keeper. Hence: Anything perishable that remains in good condition longer than usual. Downing.
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7. An iron bar that is placed on the poles of a horseshoe magnet, and held in place there by the magnetic force, to preserve the strength of the magnet when not in use.
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Coloq. Keeper of the forest (O. Eng. Law), an officer who had the principal government of all things relating to the forest. -- Coloq. Keeper of the great seal , a high officer of state, who has custody of the great seal. The office is now united with that of lord chancellor. [Eng.] -- Coloq. Keeper of the King's conscience , the lord chancellor; -- a name given when the chancellor was an ecclesiastic. [Eng.] -- Coloq. Keeper of the privy seal (styled also lord privy seal), a high officer of state, through whose hands pass all charters, pardons, etc., before they come to the great seal. He is a privy councillor, and was formerly called clerk of the privy seal. [Eng.] -- Coloq. Keeper of a magnet , a piece of iron which connects the two poles, for the purpose of keeping the magnetic power undiminished; an armature; called also keeper.
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Keepership (?), n. The office or position of a keeper. Carew.
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Keeping, n. 1. A holding; restraint; custody; guard; charge; care; preservation.
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His happiness is in his own keeping. South.
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2. Maintenance; support; provision; feed; as, the cattle have good keeping.
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The work of many hands, which earns my keeping. Milton.
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3. Conformity; congruity; harmony; consistency; as, these subjects are in keeping with each other; his levity is not in keeping with the seriousness of the occasion.
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4. (Paint.) Harmony or correspondence between the different parts of a work of art; as, the foreground of this painting is not in keeping.
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Coloq. Keeping room , a family sitting room. [New Eng. & Prov. Eng.]

Syn. -- Care; guardianship; custody; possession.
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Keepsake (?), n. Anything kept, or given to be kept, for the sake of the giver; a token of friendship.
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Keesh (?), n. See .
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Keeve (?), n. [AS. c�f, fr. L. cupa a tub, cask; also, F. cuve. Cf. , .] 1. (Brewing) A vat or tub in which the mash is made; a mash tub. Ure.
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2. (Bleaching) A bleaching vat; a kier.
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3. (Mining) A large vat used in dressing ores.
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Keeve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Keeved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Keeving.] 1. To set in a keeve, or tub, for fermentation.
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2. To heave; to tilt, as a cart. [Prov. Eng.]
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Keever (?), n. See , n.
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Keffe-kil (?), n. (Min.) See .
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Kefir (kĕfẽr), n. 1. An effervescent liquor like kumiss, made from fermented milk, used as a food and as a medicine in the northern Caucasus. -- Kefiric (kĕfĭrĭk), a.
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2. A sour fermented milk drink, used in various regions of Asia, made by addition of Streptococcus or Lactobacillus cultures to cow's or goat's milk; it is considered by some as a form of yoghurt.
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Kefir grains. Small hard yellowish aggregations found in the Caucasus region, and containing various yeasts and bacteria. They are used as a ferment in preparing kefir.
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Keg (kĕg), n. [Earlier cag, Icel. kaggi; akin to Sw. kagge.] A small cask or barrel.
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Keilhauite (kīlhouīt), n. (Min.) A mineral of a brownish black color, related to titanite in form. It consists chiefly of silica, titanium dioxide, lime, and yttria.
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Keir (?), n. See .
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Keitloa (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A black, two-horned, African rhinoceros (Atelodus keitloa). It has the posterior horn about as long as the anterior one, or even longer.
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Keld (?), a. [Cf. .] Having a kell or covering; webbed. [Obs.] Drayton.
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Kele (?), v. t. [See to cool.] To cool. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Kell (?), n. A kiln. [Obs.]
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Kell, n. [A modification of kale.] A sort of pottage; kale. See , 2. Ainsworth.
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Kell, n. [Cf. .] 1. The caul; that which covers or envelops as a caul; a net; a fold; a film. [Obs.]
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I'll have him cut to the kell. Beau. & Fl.
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2. The cocoon or chrysalis of an insect. B. Jonson.
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Keloid (?), a. [Also spelled cheloid.] [F. kéloïde, from Gr. chhlh crab's claw + -oid: cf. F. kéloïde, chéloïde.] (Med.) Applied to a variety of tumor forming hard, flat, irregular excrescences upon the skin, or to keloid scar tissue.
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Keloid, n. [Also spelled cheloid.] 1. A keloid tumor.
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2. An abnormally large scar tissue growing at the site of a cut or surgical incision.
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Kelotomy (?), n. (Med.) See .
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Kelp (kĕlp), n. [Formerly kilpe; of unknown origin.] 1. The calcined ashes of seaweed, -- formerly much used in the manufacture of glass, now used in the manufacture of iodine.
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2. (Bot.) Any large blackish seaweed.
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☞ Laminaria is the common kelp of Great Britain; Macrocystis pyrifera and Nereocystis Lutkeana are the great kelps of the Pacific Ocean.
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Coloq. Kelp crab (Zoöl.), a California spider crab (Epialtus productus), found among seaweeds, which it resembles in color. -- Coloq. Kelp salmon (Zoöl.), a serranoid food fish (Serranus clathratus) of California. See .
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Kelpfish (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small California food fish (Heterostichus rostratus), living among kelp. The name is also applied to species of the genus Platyglossus.

{ Kelpie, Kelpy }, n.; pl. Kelpies (#). [Cf. Gael. cailpeach, calpach, colpach, a heifer, steer, colt, colpa a cow or horse.] (Scotch Myth.) An imaginary spirit of the waters, horselike in form, vulgarly believed to warn, by preternatural noises and lights, those who are to be drowned. Jamieson.
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Kelpware (?), n. Same as , 2.
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Kelson (?), n. See . Sir W. Raleigh.
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Kelt (?), n. See , n. Jamieson.
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Kelt, n. [Cf. Icel. kult quilt.] Cloth with the nap, generally of native black wool. [Scot.] Jamieson.
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Kelt, n. A salmon after spawning. [Scot.]
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Kelt, n. Same as , one of Celtic race.
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Kelter (?), n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. cealt clothes, Gael. cealltair spear, castle, cause, Prov. E. kilter tool, instrument. Cf. .] Regular order or proper condition. [Usually written kilter in th U. S.] [Colloq., chiefly British spelling]
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If the organs of prayer be out of kelter or out of tune, how can we pray? Barrow.
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Keltic (kĕltĭk), a. & n. Same as , a. & n.
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Kelvin (kĕlvĭn), n. [from Lord Kelvin, English physicist.] The SI unit of temperature, defined as being 1/273.16 of the triple point of water; abbreviated K. The melting point of water at 760 mm pressure is 273.15 Kelvins, and the boiling point 373.15 Kelvins. One degree Kelvin is equal to one degree Centigrade, and 9/5 degrees Fahrenheit.
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