Ken appeared on the English horizon in the 16th century referring to the distance bounding the range of ordinary vision at sea (about 20 miles), and would thus have been familiar to skippers in particular. …

KEN meaning: not within the range of what someone knows or understands

1. knowledge or understanding: an idea beyond one's ken. 2. range of sight or vision.

KEN definition: 1. not in your area of knowledge: 2. to know someone or something 3. not in your area of…. Learn more.

Ken in American English (ken) noun a male given name, form of Kendall or Kenneth

Dec 28, 2025 · In common usage a fossil word, found only in phrases such as beyond one’s ken and swim into one’s ken.

There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun ken, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Apr 21, 2025 · Explore the slang meaning of 'ken', its historical roots, and how it's used in contemporary communication. Understand its impact, statistics, and cultural significance in today's linguistic …

The term “ken” is notably used in Scottish dialect as a common verb meaning “to know.” The phrase “beyond my ken” is a popular idiom meaning “outside the range of my knowledge or understanding.”

In this context, the phrase is infelicitous : ' beyond one's ken ', in its ordinary usage, means beyond one's powers of comprehension.