This week’s theme
Words used figuratively

This week’s words
effervescent
malodorous
piquant
fulgent
aspersion

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(PEE-kuhnt/kahnt, pee-KAHNT)

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Pleasantly pungent or spicy.
2. Engaging or stimulating in a provocative manner.
3. Sharp or stinging.

ETYMOLOGY:

From French piquer (to prick). Earliest documented use: 1494.

USAGE:

“The young heir to Challis Hall was bored and this piquant situation promised a little entertainment.”
Kathleen Shoesmith; Elusive Legacy; Robert Hale; 1976.

“While the juice of a navel will bring a pure sweetness to what’s being cooked, you can switch it for the piquant juice of Sevilles -- narenj.”
Yotam Ottolenghi; All in the Balance; The New York Times Magazine; Feb 18, 2024.

See more usage examples of piquant in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: