Defn: In a keen manner.
KEENNESS
Keen"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being keen.
KEEP Keep, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kept; p. pr. & vb. n. Keeping.] Etym: [OE. k, AS.c to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.]
1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] I kepe not of armes for to yelp [boast]. Chaucer.
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. If we lose the field, We can not keep the town. Shak. That I may know what keeps me here with you. Dryden. If we would weigh and keep in our minds what we are considering, that would instruct us. Locke.
3. To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor. His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal. Milton. Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on. Addison.
Note: 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.
4. To have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of. The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade. Knolles.
5. To preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard. Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee. Gen. xxviii. 15.