ken
0 antonyms and opposites of ken, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect).
How to use ken
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The verb sense is chiefly Scottish/Northern English dialect; the noun phrase "beyond my ken" is standard English.
Etymology
From Middle English kennen, "to make known, understand", from Old English cennan, "to declare, give birth to, beget" — related to the modern word kin.
Full origin of ken →Frequently asked questions
What does “ken” mean?
The word “ken” means to know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect). In plain terms, to know something (Scots/Northern English usage), or, as a noun, the scope of someone's knowledge.
How do you pronounce “ken”?
“Ken” is pronounced kehn (/kɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “ken” in a sentence?
Here is “ken” used in a sentence: “Do you ken what he meant by that?”
What part of speech is “ken”?
Depending on how it is used, “ken” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “ken” come from?
The word “ken” comes from Old English. From Middle English kennen, "to make known, understand", from Old English cennan, "to declare, give birth to, beget" — related to the modern word kin.
Is “ken” a common word?
“Ken” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ken” have?
“Ken” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect).
What is the difference between 'ken' and 'know'?
As verbs, both 'ken' and 'know' mean to understand or be aware of something. 'Know' is standard everywhere, while 'ken' is a dialect word used mainly in Scotland and Northern England, as in 'do you ken?'
Where is 'ken' used to mean 'to know'?
The verb 'ken,' meaning to know or understand, is chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect. It is common in everyday speech in those regions but is rare in standard English elsewhere.
Is 'ken' still used in everyday English?
The verb sense, meaning 'to know,' remains in active use as dialect in Scotland and Northern England. In standard English the word survives mainly as a noun in the fixed phrase 'beyond one's ken.'