| 释义 |
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.
c1400Rom. Rose 1879 The God of Love an arowe took; Ful sharp it was and ful pugnaunt. c1470Henry Wallace iii. 141 The Scottis..With ponȝeand speris throuch platis prest of steylle. 1567Turberv. Ovid's Epist. 69 b, Poynant hornes of fell and yrefull bulles. 1624Gee Hold Fast 51 This weapon, being made so poinant and deadly, that it would pearce..reasonable good armour. 1695J. 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. 1820Miss 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.
c1386Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 14 Of poynaunt sauce hir neded neuer a deel. c1450Lydg. & Burgh Secrees 1949 Wyn..Ponyaunt, delectable, sharp in savour. c1450Douce MS. 55 (Bodl.) iii, Sesyn hit..so that hit be poynant. 1610B. Jonson Alch. ii. ii, Drest with an exquisite, and poynant sauce. 1728Young Love Fame vi. 44 Those charms are greatest which decline the sight, That makes the banquet poignant and polite. 1864Hawthorne Dolliver Rom. (1879) 61 The rich, poignant perfume spread itself through the air. 1883Stevenson 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.
c1386Chaucer Pars. T. ⁋56 And this sorwe..shal been heuy and greuous and ful sharpe and poynant in herte. 1651N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. i. (1739) 3 The last affront was from France, and that..more poinant. 1728Eliza Heywood Mme. de Gomez's Belle A. (1732) II. 10 This final Answer threw the King of Portugal into the most poinant Despair. 1809–10Coleridge Friend (1818) III. 233 Those rare excellencies which make one grief poignant. a1881Rossetti Ho. Life ii, Creature of poignant thirst And exquisite hunger. 1887Lowell Democr., etc. 48 This pang is made more poignant by exile.
b. Stimulating to the mind, feelings, or passions; pleasantly or delightfully piquant.
1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, ccclxvi, Better rellish, [which] in this poynant State Might give an Edge to Witt, at less expence. 1668H. More Div. Dial. ii. viii. (1713) 113 That Delights thereby may become more poinant and triumphant. 1772Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) I. 17 Those poignant joys, which are the lot of the affluent. 1860Hawthorne 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.
1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 270 b, With these sharpe & poynaunte woordes he clene putte awaye y⊇ fearefull trembleyng of all the legions. 1668Dryden Dram. Poesy Ess. (Ker) I. 103 Quick and poynant brevity. 1678Wycherley Pl. Dealer iii. i, Poinant and sower Invectives. 1706Reflex. upon Ridicule 208 Witticisms which you think so delicate and poignant. 1773Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind (1774) I. v. 157 A witty repartee or a stroke of poignant raillery. 1821Lamb Elia Ser. i. Mrs. Battle's Opinions on Whist, Her illustrations were apposite and poignant. 1844Disraeli Coningsby iii. i, Poignant sarcasm. |
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