poignant

Forms

poignant (feminine poignante, masculine plural poignants, feminine plural poignantes)^[1] Old French and Anglo-Norman spellings include puignant, poinant and poignaunt; the spelling poignant is found about 1138 in Gaimar.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French poindre + -ant, as the old present participle of the verb meaning “to prick, to sting”.^{[4][5][6][7][1]} The verb is from Latin pungō (“to prick”).^[6][8] The Petit Robert sees an influence of empoigner and poigne on the word.^[9] Wiktionary compares the Latin present participle pungentem.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Chanson de Roland (1080) it is used adverbially for “at a gallop”, properly “spurring the horse”; about 1119 Philippe de Thaon has beste puignante, a beast that bites or stings.^[5][3][7]

Semantic evolution

Its early concrete sense “sharp, pricking” was used of weapons and also, from 1588, of a light so strong that it hurts the eyes; these uses have gone out of use, though Buffon still wrote of a hedgehog's prickly “weapons”.^[7][3][6][4] The figurative sense “that wounds, that causes suffering” is recorded from 1188 and is the only one left in modern usage;^[7][6] Bloch and Wartburg find the modern sense from 1704.^[7][6] It was later weakened to “very moving” (1862, Hugo).^[7][3]

English took the word as poinaunt in the late 14th century, of sauces and spices as well as of feelings.^[8]

Timeline

• 1080 – Used in the Chanson de Roland for “at a gallop”.^[5][3][7]
• c. 1119 – Philippe de Thaon has beste puignante “stinging beast”.^[3][5]
• c. 1138 – Gaimar writes poignant.^[3][5]
• 1188 – First record of the sense “that causes suffering”.^[7]
• 1588 – Montaigne uses it of a dazzling light.^[3][7]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as poinaunt.^[8]
• 1704 – The modern sense is recorded.^[6]
• 1862 – Victor Hugo uses it for what stirs violent emotion.^[3][7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. That causes a sharp, painful feeling and wrings the heart; harrowing, deeply moving: un adieu poignant.^[9][4][1]
2. (rare) Causing acute physical pain.^[4]
3. (obsolete) Sharp, pricking; of a light, dazzling.^[4][3]

Related words

• poindre
• pointe
• poinçon
• pourpoint
• Latin pungō
• English poignant

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert