kenning
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kenning¹
- /ˈkɛnɪŋ/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛnɪŋ
Where it comes from
From Middle English kenning, kening (“instruction, teaching; experience, knowledge; sight, view”), from kennen (“to make known, point out, reveal; to direct, instruct, teach; to know, perceive”) + -ing. Kennen is derived from Old English cennan (“to make known, declare”), from Proto-West Germanic *kannijan, from Proto-Germanic *kannijaną (“to make known”), the causative form of *kunnaną (“to know, be familiar with, recognize; to be able to, know how”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”).
Compare Danish kending (“acquaintance”), and see further at ken. By surface analysis, ken + -ing.
noun kennings
-
Sight, view; specifically a distant view at sea.
Touching the moſt remarkeable things of the Country and our proceeding from the 17 of Auguſt 1585. till the 18. of Iune 1586. we made Roanoack our habitation. The vtmoſt of our diſcouery Southward was Secotan as we eſteemed 80. leagues from Roanoacke. The paſſage from thence was thought a broad ſoun
Similar: ken
- The range or extent of vision, especially at sea; (by extension) a marine measure of approximately twenty miles. Scylley is a Kenning, that is to ſay about an xx. Miles from the very Weſteſte Point of Cornewaulle.
- As little as one can discriminate or recognize; a small portion, a little. put in a kenning of salt
verb
- present participle and gerund of ken
kenning²
- /ˈkɛnɪŋ/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛnɪŋ
Where it comes from
From ken (“to beget, bring forth”), from Middle English kennen (“to beget, conceive (offspring); to give birth to”), from Old English cennan, gecennan (“to beget (offspring); to give birth to; to bring forth, produce”); see further at etymology 1.
noun kennings
- A chalaza or tread of an egg (a spiral band attaching the yolk of the egg to the eggshell); a cicatricula. The ſtreine or kenning of the egge.
kenning³
- /ˈkɛnɪŋ/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛnɪŋ
Where it comes from
A learned borrowing from Old Norse kenning, from kenna (“to know; to perceive”), from Proto-Germanic *kannijaną (“to make known”); see further at etymology 1. Compare can, keen, ken.
noun kennings
- A metaphorical compound or phrase, used especially in Germanic poetry (Old English or Old Norse) whereby a simple thing is described in an allusive way. [A]s we are all aware, the Skalds used all sorts of kennings from Jewels, Gold, Silver, &c., to betoken Women, &c. Gold is called "The Sea's Blink (Blik)", and so on, and a female is "Gold's Mistress", "The Goddess of the Golden Jewel", and so forth.
kenning⁴
- /ˈkɛnɪŋ/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛnɪŋ
Where it comes from
Origin unknown.
noun kennings
- A dry measure equivalent to half a bushel; a container with that capacity. In the hall. One large table, with frame. 10s. ij cobbordes 8s. j fourme, j chaire, and j kenninge measure, 12d.
Kenning⁵
proper noun Kennings
- A surname.
Translations
Talk about this word "kenning." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/kenning. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. kenning. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/kenning "kenning." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/kenning.Cite this
@misc{kenning_2026,
title = {kenning},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/kenning},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
