| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 1032
|
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:30 am Post subject: poignant |
|
|
| Quote: |
| a poignantly expressed tribute to his father. |
I saw the above example in my dictionary. I think 'poignantly' is a bad meaning which mean sadness or a full of pity but 'poignantly' in the example seems to be a good meaning which seems to mean 'excellently'.
So I wonder the example is wrong. Can you tell me whether it's wrong.
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lorikeet

Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1877 Location: San Francisco
|
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:19 am Post subject: Re: poignant |
|
|
| Chan-Seung Lee wrote: |
| Quote: |
| a poignantly expressed tribute to his father. |
I saw the above example in my dictionary. I think 'poignantly' is a bad meaning which mean sadness or a full of pity but 'poignantly' in the example seems to be a good meaning which seems to mean 'excellently'.
So I wonder the example is wrong. Can you tell me whether it's wrong.
Thanks. |
The example is correct. If it is a poignantly expressed tribute, it means he talked about his father with words from his heart. The people listening understood the feeling he expressed. It doesn't mean "excellently." Maybe the words he said might make you cry. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2875 Location: California
|
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The American Heritage Dictionary entry is very informative. See usage 1.a. for something similar to your example.
poignant, adj.
1. a. Profoundly moving; touching: a poignant memory. See Synonyms at moving.
b. Physically painful: "Keen, poignant agonies seemed to shoot from his neck downward" (Ambrose Bierce).
c. Keenly distressing to the mind or feelings: poignant anxiety.
d. Neat, skillful, and to the point: poignant illustrations supplementing the text.
e. Astute and pertinent; relevant: poignant suggestions.
f. Sharp or sour to the taste; piquant.
g. Sharp or pungent to the smell.
2. Piercing; incisive: poignant criticism.
3. a. Neat, skillful, and to the point: poignant illustrations supplementing the text.
b. Astute and pertinent; relevant: poignant suggestions.
c. Sharp or sour to the taste; piquant.
d. Sharp or pungent to the smell.
4. Agreeably intense or stimulating: poignant delight.
5. Archaic
a. Sharp or sour to the taste; piquant.
b. Sharp or pungent to the smell.
[Middle English poinaunt, from Old French poignant, present participle of poindre, to *beep*, from Latin pungere; see peuk- in Indo-European roots.] _________________ You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|