Where does “poignant” come from?

poignant (Old French) comes from Latin pungēns, from Latin pungō, from Proto-Italic pungō, from Proto-Indo-European pewǵ- — to punch, fist-fight; to prick, poke, stab.

poignant (Old French): present participle of poindre; pointed; pointy

Definitions

  1. present participle of poindre; pointed; pointy

Ancestry of “poignant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpungēnspricking, puncturing, stinging
2Latinpungōto prick; to puncture; to sting
3Proto-Italicpungōto prick, to sting
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpewǵ-to punch, fist-fight; to prick, poke, stab

Words derived from “poignant”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pewǵ- →Every word from Proto-Italic pungō →Every word from Latin pungō →