piercingly.html - v.
1 tr. a (of a sharp instrument etc.) penetrate the surface of. b (often foll. by with) prick with a sharp instrument, esp. to make a hole in. c make (a hole etc.) (pierced a hole in the belt). d (of cold, grief, etc.) affect keenly or sharply. e (of a light, glance, sound, etc.) penetrate keenly or sharply.
2 (as piercing adj.) (of a glance, intuition, high noise, bright light, etc.) keen, sharp, or unpleasantly penetrating.
3 tr. force (a way etc.) through or into (something) (pierced their way through the jungle).
4 intr. (usu. foll. by through, into) penetrate.

piercer n. piercingly adv. [ME f. OF percer f. L pertundere bore through (as PER-, tundere tus- thrust)]

piercingly.html - n.
1 a a structure of iron or wood raised on piles and leading out to sea, a lake, etc., used as a promenade and landing-stage, and often with entertainment arcades etc. b a breakwater; a mole.
2 a a support of an arch or of the span of a bridge; a pillar. b solid masonry between windows etc.

pier-glass a large mirror, used orig. to fill wall-space between windows. [ME per f. AL pera, of unkn. orig.]

piercingly.html - v.
1 tr. a (of a sharp instrument etc.) penetrate the surface of. b (often foll. by with) prick with a sharp instrument, esp. to make a hole in. c make (a hole etc.) (pierced a hole in the belt). d (of cold, grief, etc.) affect keenly or sharply. e (of a light, glance, sound, etc.) penetrate keenly or sharply.
2 (as piercing adj.) (of a glance, intuition, high noise, bright light, etc.) keen, sharp, or unpleasantly penetrating.
3 tr. force (a way etc.) through or into (something) (pierced their way through the jungle).
4 intr. (usu. foll. by through, into) penetrate.

piercer n. piercingly adv. [ME f. OF percer f. L pertundere bore through (as PER-, tundere tus- thrust)]

piercingly.html - n.
(fem. pierrette) Theatr.
1 a white-faced entertainer in pier shows etc. with a loose white clown's costume.
2 a French pantomime character so dressed. [F, dimin. of Pierre Peter]

piercingly.html - See: EAT HUMBLE PIE, FINGER IN THE PIE, PIE IN THE SKY, SWEETIE PIE.

piercingly.html - {n. phr.}, {informal} An unrealistic wish or hope. * /Our trip to Hawaii is still only a pie in the sky./ Compare: PIPE DREAM.