piquancyn.
/ˈpiːk(ə)nsi/, U.S. /ˈpik(w)ənsi/ 1. A pleasant or invigorating sharpness or pungency of taste or smell; zest, tang; an appetizing flavour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun] > pungency
peppera1425
tangc1440
mordacity1583
heat1586
saltness1612
piquantness1648
quickness1652
subtilty1661
penetratingness1662
pungency1663
piquancy1664
poignancy1677
mordicancy1693
pertness1756
causticity1772
poignance1782
pungence1810
warmth1816
piquance1867
zinginess1938
1664 J. Evelyn Pomona iv. 13 in Sylva App. To salute our Palats with a more agreeable piquancy and tartness.
1725 H. Sloane Voy. Islands II. 104 The Fruit, tho' somewhat austere, with its sweetish Piquancy is not unpleasant.
a1780 J. Fothergill Remarks on Cure Consumptions in Compl. Coll. Med. & Philos. Wks. (1781) 403 Spices of all kinds in any quantity, and indeed every thing possessed of much piquancy.
1871 G. H. Napheys Prevention & Cure Dis. i. ii. 83 Imparting piquancy to the food.
1884 R. Browning Ferishtah's Fancies Prol. 17 First, food—then, piquancy.
1910 H. H. Richardson Getting of Wisdom xiv. 145 One great complicated smell, the piquancy of which made Laura sniff like a spaniel.
1995 Toronto Life Jan. 82/3 For piquancy, he proposes a delicate sauce, a wasabe [sic] beurre blanc.
2. figurative.† b. Acerbity, severity. Obsolete.
a. The quality (in speech, manner, style, etc.) of being stimulating, exciting, or charming; poignancy; bite.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [noun] > piquancy or poignancy
saltness1612
piquancy1673
poignance1683
poignancy1683
race1690
raciness1759
spiciness1876
1673 Bp. S. Parker Reproof Rehearsal Transprosed 249 Some standing jest that may give rellish and picquancy to all the other insipid and phlegmatick parts of the discourse.
1685 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II I. 129 Give a relish and picquancy to our Conversation.
1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. i. xvi. 37 What Elegance, Taste, Piquancy, Love, does he throw into it!
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 221 There was a tasteful smartness in her dress,..with a gentillesse in her air, and a piquancy of expression.
1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. xiii. 153 His well-known haughty indifference to the society of womankind..contributed a piquancy to what would otherwise have been an unromantic matter enough.
1920 S. Lewis Main St. xvii. 209 The Little Theaters, which were to give piquancy to American drama three or four years later, were only in embryo.
1993 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) May 159/2 No secret..was untellable if it added piquancy to the tale.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [noun] > severity or sternness
rethenesseOE
grimness971
hardnessOE
sternhead1297
sharpnessa1325
reddoura1375
fiercetya1382
sternness1382
fiercenessc1384
sturdinessc1384
fellnessc1410
austeritya1425
raddourc1440
austerenessa1450
severity1530
cruelness1537
cruelty1556
severeness1579
tender mercies1611
piquancya1677
Draconianism1819
astringency1823
Draconism1832
hard-handedness1849
starkness1884
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [noun]
rethenesseOE
grimness971
sternhead1297
sharpnessa1325
reddoura1375
sternness1382
fiercenessc1384
sturdinessc1384
duressc1400
fellnessc1410
austeritya1425
harshnessc1480
roughness1530
severity1530
durity1543
ungentleness1548
severeness1579
ruggedness1638
atrocity1641
austereness1646
piquancya1677
Draconianism1819
astringency1823
Draconism1832
starkness1884
a1677 I. Barrow Several Serm. Evil-speaking (1678) ii. 74 Satyrical taunts do owe their seeming piquancy, not to the speaker,..but to the subject, and the hearers.
1698 R. Ferguson View of Ecclesiastick in Socks & Buskins 16 That the reader may..judge, with what Meekness and Decency, tho with some measure of Picquancy, I treat them.
1759 W. Harte Hist. Life Gustavus Adolphus II. 149 The petulant fervour, and piquancy of sarcastic insinuations, in the younger part of military people.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1664