From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
piercing
adj 1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine
distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and
politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike
reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a
fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative
observations" [syn: acute, discriminating,
incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating,
penetrative, sharp]
2: high-pitched and sharp; "piercing screams"; "a shrill
whistle" [syn: shrill, sharp]
3: as physically painful as if caused by a sharp instrument; "a
cutting wind"; "keen winds"; "knifelike cold"; "piercing
knifelike pains"; "piercing cold"; "piercing criticism";
"a stabbing pain"; "lancinating pain" [syn: cutting,
keen, knifelike, stabbing, lancinate,
lancinating]
4: suitable for cutting or piercing; "incisive teeth"; "the
piercing needle" [syn: incisive]
5: loud and sharp; "the piercing shriek of sirens"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Piercing \Pier"cing\, a.
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.
[1913 Webster] -- Pier"cing*ly, adv. -- Pier"cing*ness,
n.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pierce \Pierce\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Piercing.] [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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
3. Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a
mystery. "Pierced with grief." --Pope.
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Can no prayers pierce thee? --Shak.
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