ken
1 of 2noun
Lois M. Rettie William Shakespeareken
2 of 2verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Did you know?
Understanding Ken
Ken appeared on the English horizon in the 16th century as a term of measurement of the distance bounding the range of ordinary vision at sea—about 20 miles. British author John Lyly used that sense in 1580 when he wrote, "They are safely come within a ken of Dover." Other 16th-century writers used ken to mean "range of vision" ("Out of ken we were ere the Countesse came from the feast." — Thomas Nashe) or "sight" ("'Tis double death to drown in ken of shore." — Shakespeare). Today, however, ken rarely suggests literal sight. Rather, ken nowadays almost always implies a range of perception, understanding, or knowledge.
Example Sentences
The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022 How pigeons get enough calories to stay alive and healthy until spring is beyond my ken. John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2022 Many of the items had been disabled by departing U.S. troops or are beyond the ken of Taliban fighters to operate. Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2021 His nuanced understanding of Davis’s playing — its harmonic and rhythmic wirings as well as its smoldering tone — was only part of a vast musical ken. Giovanni Russonello, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2020 Unscathed (for reasons beyond my ken) include baptisia, clematis recta, and of course the sturdy-as-stone conifers. Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 17 June 2017 Word History
Verb
Middle English kennen, from Old English cennan to make known & Old Norse kenna to perceive; both akin to Old English can know — more at can entry 1
Noun
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing ken
ken 1 of 2
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sight
- landscape
- vista
- visual field
- perspective
- scenery
- view
- scene
- outlook
- panorama
- command
- prospect
- lookout
Synonyms & Similar Words
- understanding
- gray matter
- instinct
- skill
- intelligence
- might
- prowess
- dexterity
- adroitness
- usefulness
- aptitude
- endowment
- aptness
- hand
- staying power
- equipment
- gift
- address
- stuff
- competence
- reason
- potency
- competency
- puissance
- knack
- deftness
- resourcefulness
- influence
- talent
- ability
- facility
- capability
- capacity
- means
- faculty
- adequacy
- fitness
- effectiveness
- resources
- capableness
- form
- wherewithal
- effectualness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ineptitude
- incompetence
- disability
- ineptness
- incompetency
- inability
- incapacity
- impotence
- paralysis
- helplessness
- weakness
- deficiency
- incapability
- powerlessness
- uselessness
- inadequacy
- incapableness
- defectiveness
- ineffectuality
- ineffectiveness
- inefficacy
- impairment
- inadequateness
- ineffectualness
- incapacitation
- inefficaciousness
- disablement
- debilitation
Synonyms & Similar Words
- scope
- ambit
- compass
- breadth
- extent
- confine
- reach
- width
- sweep
- profession
- amplitude
- pursuit
- occupation
- vocation
- territory
- turf
- bailiwick
- racket
- subfield
- subspecialty
- dimension(s)
- realm
- frontier
- subject
- department
- province
- kingdom
- sphere
- domain
- arena
- firmament
- specialty
- study
- precinct
- barony
- fief
- area
- circle
- discipline
- demesne
- fiefdom
- walk
- element
- front
- game
- field
- terrain
- business
- line
ken
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- fathom
- savvy
- perceive
- know
- appreciate
- grasp
- apprehend
- comprehend
- understand
- follow
- possess
- cognize
- have
- catch on (to)
- pick up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misunderstand
- misapprehend
- misconceive
- misperceive
- misknow
- misinterpret