the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > making holes or becoming holed > make (an opening or hole) [verb (transitive)] > make an opening or hole in or into > bore, pierce, or perforate > with something sharp-pointed
c1487 J. Skelton tr. Diodorus Siculus v. 371 Whiche lyon was bruted an huge myghty beest..that neuer myght be outrayed ne brought to discomfyture, nor that myght be empercyd, brusyd, ne wounded eyther [L. neque ferro neque aere neque lapide vulnerari posset].
1578 T. Proctor sig. Oiiv Sweete pendant, now in wofull brest Impersid.
1593 T. Nashe f. 63 To arte-enamel your speech to empeirce..soules.
1599 W. Shakespeare i. iv. 19 I am too sore enpearced with his shaft, To sore with his light feathers. View more context for this quotation
1621 F. Quarles §10 Like painted swords They near impierc'd Queen Esthers tender heart.
1642 H. More sig. Dv The vast thumps of massie hammers noise..Empierc'd mine ears.
1751 G. West 24 [His] tender Breast Empierced deep with sympathizing Teen.
1813 E. S. Barrett II. xvi. 55 Returning, impierced with mickle dolour, from his funeral, I was stopped on a common.
1855 51 89 The horrible thorns empierced the bone.
1908 L. W. Allen 29 I felt God's eye Impiercing Beauty's wide apocalypse.
2008 G. B. Pegg x This long scythe of ancient and medieval masonry was empierced with two lesser gates, the Montgaillard and Montoulieu.