See Also: poignant(dictionary)
poignant(dictionary)

poignant (iou)



poignant adjective. LME.
[Old & mod. French, pres. pple of poindre from Latin pungere prick: see -ANT1.]
Of a weapon etc.: sharp-pointed, piercing. LME-L17.
Sharp, pungent, or piquant to the taste or smell. LME.
L. Durrell By the bed the rich poignant scent of her powder.
Painfully sharp to the emotions or physical feelings; distressing; deeply moving, touching; arousing sympathy. LME.
D. G. Rossetti Creature of poignant thirst And exquisite hunger. B. Tarkington An unexpected poignant loneliness fell upon his nephew. Sounds His..poignant experience of a broken marriage.
Of words etc.: hurtful, sharp, stinging; severe. Occas., pleasantly pointed. arch. L15.
Disraeli Poignant sarcasm.
Stimulating to the mind or feelings, delightfully piquant. Now rare. M17.
N. Hawthorne A more poignant felicity.
Of an eye, a look: piercing, keen. L18-E19.
poignantly adverb L18.