poignant, a.
(ˈpɔɪnənt, ˈpɔɪɲənt)
Forms: 4–6 poynaunt, 4–8 -ant, 7–8 poinant, 7– poignant, (5 pugnaunt, ponȝeand, -yaunt, -yawnt, poygnaunt, poyngnant).
[ME. a. OF. puignant (12th c. in Godef.), poignant (13th c.), pr. pple. of poindre:—L. pungĕre to prick, pierce.]
† 1. a. Of weapons, or other pointed material objects: Sharp-pointed, piercing. Obs.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 1879 The God of Love an arowe took; Ful sharp it was and ful pugnaunt. c 1470 Henry Wallace iii. 141 The Scottis..With ponȝeand speris throuch platis prest of steylle. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Epist. 69 b, Poynant hornes of fell and yrefull bulles. 1624 Gee Hold Fast 51 This weapon, being made so poinant and deadly, that it would pearce..reasonable good armour. 1695 J. Edwards Perfect. Script. 339 They were dispatch'd themselves by a more poinant stroke. |
b. fig. Of the eye or look: Piercing, keen.
| 1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsemen (1809) 15 Jeffery was not so slim, or was his eye so poignant. 1820 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life II. v. 120 Jeffrey has a singular expression—poignant, bitter, piercing—as if his countenance never lit up but at the perception of some weakness in human nature. |
2. Sharp, pungent, piquant to the taste or smell.
| c 1386 Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 14 Of poynaunt sauce hir neded neuer a deel. c 1450 Lydg. & Burgh Secrees 1949 Wyn..Ponyaunt, delectable, sharp in savour. c 1450 Douce MS. 55 (Bodl.) iii, Sesyn hit..so that hit be poynant. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. ii. ii, Drest with an exquisite, and poynant sauce. 1728 Young Love Fame vi. 44 Those charms are greatest which decline the sight, That makes the banquet poignant and polite. 1864 Hawthorne Dolliver Rom. (1879) 61 The rich, poignant perfume spread itself through the air. 1883 Stevenson Silverado Sq. 237 A laboratory of poignant scents. |
3. a. Painfully sharp to the physical or mental feelings, as hunger, thirst, a pang, an affront; also said of a state of feeling, as grief, regret, despair.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶56 And this sorwe..shal been heuy and greuous and ful sharpe and poynant in herte. 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. i. (1739) 3 The last affront was from France, and that..more poinant. 1728 Eliza Heywood Mme. de Gomez's Belle A. (1732) II. 10 This final Answer threw the King of Portugal into the most poinant Despair. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1818) III. 233 Those rare excellencies which make one grief poignant. a 1881 Rossetti Ho. Life ii, Creature of poignant thirst And exquisite hunger. 1887 Lowell Democr., etc. 48 This pang is made more poignant by exile. |
b. Stimulating to the mind, feelings, or passions; pleasantly or delightfully piquant.
| 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, ccclxvi, Better rellish, [which] in this poynant State Might give an Edge to Witt, at less expence. 1668 H. More Div. Dial. ii. viii. (1713) 113 That Delights thereby may become more poinant and triumphant. 1772 Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) I. 17 Those poignant joys, which are the lot of the affluent. 1860 Hawthorne Marb. Faun xliii, Sensible of a more poignant felicity than he had yet experienced. |
4. Of words or expressions: Sharp, stinging; severe; also, pleasantly keen or pointed, piquant.
| 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 270 b, With these sharpe & poynaunte woordes he clene putte awaye y⊇ fearefull trembleyng of all the legions. 1668 Dryden Dram. Poesy Ess. (Ker) I. 103 Quick and poynant brevity. 1678 Wycherley Pl. Dealer iii. i, Poinant and sower Invectives. 1706 Reflex. upon Ridicule 208 Witticisms which you think so delicate and poignant. 1773 Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind (1774) I. v. 157 A witty repartee or a stroke of poignant raillery. 1821 Lamb Elia Ser. i. Mrs. Battle's Opinions on Whist, Her illustrations were apposite and poignant. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby iii. i, Poignant sarcasm. |