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Poignant

//ˈpɔɪnjənt// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Sharp-pointed; keen. obsolete, usually

    "His siluer shield, now idle maisterlesse; / His poynant speare, that many made to bleed [...]."

  2. 2
    Neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant.

    "A poignant reply will garner more credence than hours of blown smoke."

  3. 3
    Evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving.

    "Flipping through his high school yearbook evoked many a poignant memory of yesteryear."

  4. 4
    Piquant, pungent. figuratively
  5. 5
    Incisive; penetrating; piercing. figuratively

    "His comments were poignant and witty."

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  1. 6
    Inducing sharp physical pain. British, dated
Adjective
  1. 1
    arousing affect wordnet
  2. 2
    keenly distressing to the mind or feelings wordnet

Etymology

From Middle English poynaunt, poynant, borrowed from Anglo-Norman puignant, poynaunt etc., present participle of poindre (“to prick”), from Latin pungō (“prick”). Doublet of pungent.

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