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#202765 10/07/11 05:57 PM
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There is a Hebrew stem k-n-h. Means mourning over a dead person or a tragedy, like the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. Women who were professional dirgers were called m'qon'not. Is there any connection between this word and the Irish keening?

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Carpal Tunnel
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Highly unlikely. This sort of linguistic coincidence happens all the time. However, once again I will bow to the greater wisdom of zmjezhd or goofy.

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I agree with Faldage. "keen" is from Irish Gaelic "caoin-im" to wail. McBain's Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language connects it to Proto-Indo-European "*kwei-" to hiss, whistle, as in English "whine".

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Pooh-Bah
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Is keening similar to holding a WAKE?

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Carpal Tunnel
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Listen to the video Anu added to the word, Candy. It's a beautiful lament.:-) I think keening is what is done in many cultures, from high pitched screams to beautiful music. A wake is something else, though there may be keening at a wake.


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