Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pungent"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pungent \Pun"gent\, a. [L. pungens, -entis, p. pr. of pungere,
punctum, to prick. Cf. {Compunction}, {Expunge}, {Poignant},
{Point}, n., {Puncheon}, {Punctilio}, {Punt}, v. t.]
1. Causing a sharp sensation, as of the taste, smell, or
feelings; pricking; biting; acrid; as, a pungent spice.
Pungent radish biting infant's tongue. --Shenstone.
The pungent grains of titillating dust. --Pope.
2. Sharply painful; penetrating; poignant; severe; caustic;
stinging.
With pungent pains on every side. --Swift.
His pungent pen played its part in rousing the
nation. --J. R. Green.
3. (Bot.) Prickly-pointed; hard and sharp.
Syn: Acrid; piercing; sharp; penetrating; acute; keen;
acrimonious; biting; stinging.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pungent
adj 1: sharp biting or acrid especially in taste or smell; "tasting
the pungent wood sorrel"; "pungent curry"; "a pungent
smell of burning sulfur" [ant: {bland}]
2: capable of wounding; "a barbed compliment"; "a biting
aphorism"; "pungent satire" [syn: {barbed}, {biting}, {nipping},
{mordacious}]
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