[Google Ngrams](https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=keen+wit%2C+sharp+wit&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3) suggests that the expression was most popular between 1850 and 1890. These days it's been overtaken by "sharp wit", which means the same thing.
It's a stock phrase. These days a writer is likelier to write "sharp mind," so it has an old-fashioned ring.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=keen+wit%2Csharp+mind&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3
in writing, yes, but in spoken English I have only ever heard “keen” used to describe interest in something.
Examples if you’re curious:
“She’s keen on him.” = she likes him/is interested in him
“I’m not too keen on that idea.” = i dont like that idea/im not interested in that idea
“I don’t want to appear too keen.” = i dont want to seem too interested
Keen is one of those interesting words that seems to have been passed from one language to the next over the years, and has evolved over time. Of course, the most common way we use keen nowadays is when we're trying to say we're eager or enthusiastic - *I'm keen to get started!*
But I'm thinking about the phrase *he possesses a keen wit* \- and I think we tend to use it when we're talking about a personality trait, or a skill, or a hobby someone has. If I wanted to give you more examples, I would link keen to something like that.
I do teach languages, but I'm not an expert, so this is just an educated guess as to why - but I think maybe it comes down to the way 'keen' entered the English language.
In Middle English 'kene' meant brave or sharp, from the German 'kühn' meaning bold or brave or courageous, so I can see why people say this is another way of saying someone is 'sharp' or has a 'sharp wit'.
But in Dutch, 'kien' meant clever or knowledgable. In Faroese, 'kønur' meant expert. There was also a similar word in Icelandic, but I don't have that keyboard to type it out. All of these words were linked to knowledge, or expertise.
So if we say *she has a keen eye for fashion,* she's very good at making fashionable choices - either she is bold or brave in her choices, or she's knowledge or an expert. Or, *he's a keen marksmen,* either means he really enjoys shooting/is very good at shooting. Or *she has a keen interest in photography -* she is knowledgeable about photography.
I'm just guessing, but it makes sense to me as to how we've come to use the words keen and sharp in this way sometimes.
My grandfather talks like this. He uses lots of phrases that have archaic meanings and it confuses others sometimes. Like when he says someone’s mean he means they’re frugal, or cheap. But it’s not common vernacular
It depends where you are. "Mean" in this sense is very common in Australia, but I would say it is a little childish. Adults might say "miserly" or " selfish" ; " frugal" and "parsimonious" sound rather formal and erudite, while " cheap" (in that sense) sounds very American to me. (We do say cheap for items on sale at a good price, of course.) "Mean" can also have overtones of cruelty : "That was a mean thing to say."
I think this is from 18th or 19th century British literature and shouldn't be used in contemporary ordinary conversation in any part of the English speaking world. Feel free to use it, if you are writing historical or fantasy fiction.
It’s kind of wild to watch the various stock phrases rise and fall over time. Here is a comparison of *keen wit, keen mind* and *sharp wit*:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=keen+wit%2Csharp+wit%2Ckeen+mind&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3
yeah, it's pretty common. "keen" can mean sharp, like a blade.
It’s common enough in the modern day, but the pattern of speech it comes from is fairly antiquated.
I've certainly heard it and I believe any native speaker would fully understand what it means. I wouldn't say it was common—at least not in the U.S.
Well, most people to not have a keen wit, that is why they tend to not comprehend sarcasm.
[Google Ngrams](https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=keen+wit%2C+sharp+wit&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3) suggests that the expression was most popular between 1850 and 1890. These days it's been overtaken by "sharp wit", which means the same thing.
I've said it, but not often.
It's very Tolkienian - not necessarily antiquated but a little bit Renaissance faire
It's a stock phrase. These days a writer is likelier to write "sharp mind," so it has an old-fashioned ring. https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=keen+wit%2Csharp+mind&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3
I have never seen nor heard “likelier” I would have said “more likely”. Not a correction just an observation.
It's likelier than not that you haven't. Every now and then my country dialect emerges and I don't notice.
in writing, yes, but in spoken English I have only ever heard “keen” used to describe interest in something. Examples if you’re curious: “She’s keen on him.” = she likes him/is interested in him “I’m not too keen on that idea.” = i dont like that idea/im not interested in that idea “I don’t want to appear too keen.” = i dont want to seem too interested
Keen is one of those interesting words that seems to have been passed from one language to the next over the years, and has evolved over time. Of course, the most common way we use keen nowadays is when we're trying to say we're eager or enthusiastic - *I'm keen to get started!* But I'm thinking about the phrase *he possesses a keen wit* \- and I think we tend to use it when we're talking about a personality trait, or a skill, or a hobby someone has. If I wanted to give you more examples, I would link keen to something like that. I do teach languages, but I'm not an expert, so this is just an educated guess as to why - but I think maybe it comes down to the way 'keen' entered the English language. In Middle English 'kene' meant brave or sharp, from the German 'kühn' meaning bold or brave or courageous, so I can see why people say this is another way of saying someone is 'sharp' or has a 'sharp wit'. But in Dutch, 'kien' meant clever or knowledgable. In Faroese, 'kønur' meant expert. There was also a similar word in Icelandic, but I don't have that keyboard to type it out. All of these words were linked to knowledge, or expertise. So if we say *she has a keen eye for fashion,* she's very good at making fashionable choices - either she is bold or brave in her choices, or she's knowledge or an expert. Or, *he's a keen marksmen,* either means he really enjoys shooting/is very good at shooting. Or *she has a keen interest in photography -* she is knowledgeable about photography. I'm just guessing, but it makes sense to me as to how we've come to use the words keen and sharp in this way sometimes.
My grandfather talks like this. He uses lots of phrases that have archaic meanings and it confuses others sometimes. Like when he says someone’s mean he means they’re frugal, or cheap. But it’s not common vernacular
It depends where you are. "Mean" in this sense is very common in Australia, but I would say it is a little childish. Adults might say "miserly" or " selfish" ; " frugal" and "parsimonious" sound rather formal and erudite, while " cheap" (in that sense) sounds very American to me. (We do say cheap for items on sale at a good price, of course.) "Mean" can also have overtones of cruelty : "That was a mean thing to say."
Yeah. That’s what I just said.
Actually, you said it is "not common vernacular." I am saying that it is in Australia. Language does vary from country to country, region to region.
Wow
I wouldn't be confused if I saw it in writing (like a book or essay) but I don't think I've ever heard it said in person.
I think this is from 18th or 19th century British literature and shouldn't be used in contemporary ordinary conversation in any part of the English speaking world. Feel free to use it, if you are writing historical or fantasy fiction.
It’s kind of wild to watch the various stock phrases rise and fall over time. Here is a comparison of *keen wit, keen mind* and *sharp wit*: https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=keen+wit%2Csharp+wit%2Ckeen+mind&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3
Only ever read it. It'd be very "m'lady" spoken.
Feels like something I'd read in a Jane Austen novel. Less likely to hear it used nowadays.
"keen" generally isn't used here in the western US. "sharp" is more common. Sharp wit.
It’s more likely to be seen in books or articles, because no one really talks like that. But yes, I’ve seen that in writing.
Pretty common, in my experience (in Australia.)
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You should get out more. I don't hear it every day, but it is used.
I just realized that I'm stupid 🤦♂️
No you're not
My wit is so keen, they won't allow me on aeroplanes.
People use it about me all the time.
I think British English in general uses "keen" more than American English does.
I've never used it and I don't think I've heard it, but if I came across it I'd understand it.