Definitions for keening

• Definition
• Anagrams (63)

keening keen·ing

Spelling: [kee-ning]

IPA: /ˈki nɪŋ/

Keening is a 7 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 12 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 15 points.

You can make 63 anagrams from letters in keening (eegiknn).

Definitions for keening

noun

1. the act of a person who keens.
2. a wailing lament for the dead; keen.
3. a wailing lament for the dead.

verb (used with object)

1. to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing:

verb (used without object)

1. to wail in lamentation for the dead.

Origin of keening

First recorded in 1875-80; keen² + -ing¹

Examples for keening

There was a keening of wind, and a cracking of the frozen ground.

The huge brain was alert now, with a supernal sense of keening.

She crinkles her brow and then, on cue, she emits a keening howl.

The room was filled with the keening staccato of the alien transmission.

She is opening her letters and "keening" softly as she rocks in her chair.

The women are keening softly and swaying themselves with a slow movement.

keening in from the lake, the wind made him stagger backwards.

The natives stopped their keening, and made room for the two men.

It rose and fell, rose and fell, then died away like the keening of a lost soul.

But nothing they essayed could fully drown out the keening of their lust to return to high office.