| 释义 |
pungency|ˈpʌndʒənsɪ|
[f. as prec.: see -ency.]
The quality of being pungent.
1. The quality or property of pricking; the fact of having a sharp point or points. rare.
1656Blount Glossogr., Pungency, a pricking, grieving or nipping. 1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 52 Oblong particles, angular and pointed, which may perchance exstimulate the Stomach, (by its netling pungency) like a heap of needles. 1732Arbuthnot Rules of Diet in Aliments, etc. 407 Any Substance which by its Pungency can wound the Worms.
2. The quality of having a pungent smell or taste; such smell or taste itself; in more general sense, a stinging, irritant, or caustic property.
1676Grew Luctation Menstruums i. §11 The pungency of Ginger lyeth in a sulphureous and volatile Salt. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VI. 295 The violent pungency of the slimy substance... If the smallest quantity but touch the skin..it burns it like hot oil. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. xiv. 155 The air had a perceptible pungency upon inspiration. 1898Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 126 Carbonate of Ammonia should be..combined with syrup of tolu, liquorice or treacle, to soften its pungency.
b. transf. A stinging sensation, esp. of taste.
1792Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 2) III. 295 [Agaricus lactifluus] abounding with white milky juice, at first mild, but at length leaving a slight pungency in the throat.
3. fig. in various senses (see pungent 2, 3): Keenness; eagerness, intensity of desire or other feeling; intense painfulness, poignancy; severity, incisiveness, causticity; piquancy.
1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Pref. §19 The pungency of forbidden lust is truely a thorne in the flesh. 1768Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 526 The pricks of conscience will..stimulate our resolution..; and their repeated pungency will produce effects that could not have been worked by strength. 1800Charac. in Asiat. Ann. Reg. 37/1 Camoens beheld it with a pungency of grief which [etc.]. a1862Buckle Civiliz. (1869) III. ii. 110 The large amount of truth contained in this bitter taunt increased its pungency. |