PIERCINGLY

shrilly, piercingly

(adverb) in a shrill voice; “she sang rather shrilly”

piercingly, bitterly, bitingly, bitter

(adverb) extremely and sharply; “it was bitterly cold”; “bitter cold”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

piercingly (comparative more piercingly, superlative most piercingly)

In a piercing manner.

Source: Wiktionary


PIERCING

Pier"cing, a.

Definition: Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; -- used also figuratively; as, a piercing instrument, or thrust. "Piercing eloquence." Shak.

– Pier"cing*ly, adv.

– Pier"cing*ness, n.

PIERCE

Pierce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piercing.] Etym: [OE. percen, F. percer, OF. percier, perchier, parchier; perh. fr. (assumed) LL. pertusiare for pertusare, fr. L. pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: cf. OF. pertuisier to pierce, F. pertuis a hole. Cf. Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.]

1. To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument. "I pierce . . . her tender side." Dryden.

2. To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship.

3. Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery. "Pierced with grief." Pope. Can no prayers pierce thee Shak.

Pierce, v. i.

Definition: To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; -- used literally and figuratively. And pierced to the skin, but bit no more. Spenser. She would not pierce further into his meaning. Sir P. Sidney.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

2 July 2025

RESTITUTION

(noun) getting something back again; “upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Canada is the only non-European country to make its top ten list of coffee consumers. The United States at a distant 25 on the list.

coffee icon