Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pierce"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pierce \Pierce\, v. i.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
Pierce
n : 14th President of the United States (1804-1869) [syn: {Pierce},
{Franklin Pierce}, {President Pierce}]
v 1: cut or make a way through; "the knife cut through the
flesh"; "The path pierced the jungle"; "Light pierced
through the forest"
2: move or affect (a person's emotions, bodily feelings, etc.)
deeply or sharply; "The cold pierced her bones"; "Her
words pierced the students"
3: sound sharply or shrilly; "The scream pierced the night"
4: penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument [syn: {thrust}]
5: make a hole into; "The needle pierced her flesh"
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