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trenchant

[tren-chuhnt]

Origin

adjective

incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting: trenchant wit.

vigorous; effective; energetic: a trenchant policy of political reform.

clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English tranchaunt < Anglo-French; Old French trenchant, present participle of trenchier to cut. See trench, -ant

Related forms

trench·an·cy, noun

trench·ant·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. sharp, biting, acute.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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an identifying outfit or style of dress worn by the members of a given profession, organization, or rank

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Collins

World English Dictionary

trenchant (ˈtrɛntʃənt)

—*adj*
1.	keen or incisive: trenchant criticism
2.	vigorous and effective: a trenchant foreign policy
3.	distinctly defined: a trenchant outline
4.	archaic, poetic or sharp: a trenchant sword

[C14: from Old French trenchant cutting, from trenchier to cut; see trench]

'trenchancy

—n

'trenchantly

—*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
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

trenchant

early 14c., "cutting, sharp," from O.Fr. trenchant "cutting, sharp," prp. of trenchier "to cut" (see trench). Figurative sense is recorded from c.1600.

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"The trenchant editorials plus the keen rivalry natural to extremely partisan papers made it necessary for the editors to be expert pugilists and duelists as well as journalists. An editor made no assertion that he could not defend with fists or firearms."

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