poign·ant

[poin-yuhnt, poi-nuhnt]
adjective
1.
keenly distressing to the feelings: poignant regret.
2.
keen or strong in mental appeal: a subject of poignant interest.
3.
affecting or moving the emotions: a poignant scene.
4.
pungent to the smell: poignant cooking odors.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English poynaunt < Middle French poignant, present participle of poindre < Latin pungere to prick, pierce. See pungent, -ant

poign·ant·ly, adverb
un·poign·ant, adjective
un·poign·ant·ly, adverb


1. intense, sincere, heartfelt. 4. piquant, sharp.


1, 2. mild.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To poignantly
00:10
Poignantly is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Collins
World English Dictionary
poignant (ˈpɔɪnjənt, -nənt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  sharply distressing or painful to the feelings
2.  to the point; cutting or piercing: poignant wit
3.  keen or pertinent in mental appeal: a poignant subject
4.  pungent in smell
 
[C14: from Old French, from Latin pungens pricking, from pungere to sting, pierce, grieve]
 
'poignancy
 
n
 
'poignance
 
n
 
'poignantly
 
adv

poignant (ˈpɔɪnjənt, -nənt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  sharply distressing or painful to the feelings
2.  to the point; cutting or piercing: poignant wit
3.  keen or pertinent in mental appeal: a poignant subject
4.  pungent in smell
 
[C14: from Old French, from Latin pungens pricking, from pungere to sting, pierce, grieve]
 
'poignancy
 
n
 
'poignance
 
n
 
'poignantly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

poignant
late 14c., "painful to physical or mental feeling," from O.Fr. poignant (13c.), prp. of poindre "to prick, sting," from L. pungere "to prick" (see pungent).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The graph below poignantly demonstrates the projected mortality rates for
  diabetes.
Poignantly, the second returned with images of a mining helmet, its light still
  glowing.
The noted educator and family counselor discusses her own personal life and
  poignantly describes her failing powers.
Concerned citizens appeared to testify poignantly as to how gangs disrupt their
  daily lives.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT