different between poignant vs fierce
poignant
English
Etymology
From Middle English poynaunt, poynant, borrowed from Anglo-Norman puignant, poynaunt etc., present participle of poindre (“to prick”), from Latin pung? (“prick”).
Pronunciation
- (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?p??n.j?nt/, /?p???.?nt/
- (obsolete) IPA(key): /?p??.n?nt/
- Hyphenation: poign?ant (per American Heritage and Random House); poi?gnant (per Merriam-Webster)
Adjective
poignant (comparative more poignant, superlative most poignant)
- (obsolete, of a weapon, etc.) Sharp-pointed; keen.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, VII:
- His siluer shield, now idle maisterlesse; / His poynant speare, that many made to bleed [...].
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, VII:
- Neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant.
- Evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving.
- Synonyms: distressing, moving
- (figuratively, of a smell, taste) Piquant, pungent.
- (figuratively, of a look, word) Incisive; penetrating; piercing.
- (chiefly Britain, dated) Inducing sharp physical pain.
Related terms
- poignancy
- poignantly
Translations
References
- OED 2nd edition 1989
- Webster Third New International 1986
Anagrams
- Paignton
French
Etymology
From Old French poignant, present participle of poindre. Possibly corresponds to Latin pung?ns, pungentem.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pwa.???/
Verb
poignant
- present participle of poindre
- present participle of poigner
Adjective
poignant (feminine singular poignante, masculine plural poignants, feminine plural poignantes)
- poignant
References
Further reading
- “poignant” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Old French
Etymology
Present participle of poindre. Possibly corresponds to Latin pung?ns, pungentem.
Verb
poignant
- present participle of poindre
Adjective
poignant m (oblique and nominative feminine singular poignant or poignante)
- pointed; pointy
Descendants
- ? English: poignant
- French: poignant
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fierce
English
Etymology
From Middle English fers, fiers, borrowed from Old French fers (“wild", "ferocious”), nominative of fer, from Latin ferus (“wild", "untamed”)
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /f??s/
- (General American) IPA(key): /f??s/
- Rhymes: -??(?)s
Adjective
fierce (comparative fiercer, superlative fiercest)
- Exceedingly violent, severe, ferocious, cruel or savage.
- A fierce storm battered the coast.
- I felt a fierce loyalty to my family.
- Resolute or strenuously active.
- We made a fierce attempt to escape.
- Threatening in appearance or demeanor.
- The lion gave a fierce roar.
- (slang, Ireland, rural) Excellent, very good.
- Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce!"
- (slang, US, LGBT, fashion) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.
- Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce.
Synonyms
- (exceedingly violent): incessive
- (threatening in appearance or demeanor): incessive
Derived terms
- fiercely
- fierceness
- something fierce
Related terms
- feral
- ferocious
Translations
Adverb
fierce (not comparable)
- (slang, Ireland, rural) Extremely; very.
- It was fierce cold last night.
References
- fierce at OneLook Dictionary Search
- fierce in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
Anagrams
- Recife
fierce From the web:
- what fierce mean
- what fierce animal are you
- what fierce mean in spanish
- fiercely loyal meaning
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- fierce competition meaning
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