June 17, 2012

Word of the Day

adjective

1 : having a sharp point 2 : marked by a sharp incisive quality 3 a : causing a sharp or irritating sensation b : having an intense flavor or odor

Toni likes to add pungent habaneros to her chili to give it an extra spicy kick.

"The locker room door swung open and a glorious mix of Tom Petty music and pungent hockey equipment wafted into the hallway." — From an article by Chip Scoggins in the Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), May 15, 2012

"Pungent" implies a sharp stinging or biting quality, especially of odors, so it's not too surprising to discover the Latin verb "pungere" ("to prick, sting") at its root. "Compunction," "poignant," "puncture," and "punctual" share the same pointy root, and their meanings reflect its influence. Someone who feels compunction may experience the prick of a guilty conscience. Something that is poignant can be piercingly moving. And a punctured tire, pricked by a sharp point, can make it hard to be punctual — that is, to arrive "on the dot" or at a particular point in time.

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