transitive and intransitive. To prick, stab, or poke; to urge. Also figurative. Now rare.

transitive. figurative. To cause mental pain or discomfort to; to sting (esp. the conscience) with sorrow or remorse; to grieve, pain, torment.

fig. (cf. wound, v. 2, sting, v.1 5, prick, v. 2.)

to smite to a person's heart: to trouble a person's heart; to affect a person emotionally. Obsolete.

figurative. To affect with a sudden sharp mental pain or an access of painful emotion or irritation; to drive to or into (rage, madness, etc.) by…

intransitive. With upon, on (†of), in same sense as sense 11a. (With indirect passive.)

figurative. To pierce with grief or compunction.

transitive. To affect with a feeling of mental or emotional pain, sorrow, or remorse. Cf. prick, v. 2. Obsolete.

transitive. To afflict with or subject to acute physical or emotional pain.

transitive. figurative. To pierce or prick (the heart, conscience, etc.). Obsolete.

transitive. To prick, sting, afflict. Obsolete. rare.

†To cause to smart or tingle; to irritate (obsolete); to affect (the body or mind) with a twinge or sharp pain; to prick (the conscience).