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Pierce
(redirected from pierces)

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
Pierce  (pîrs), Franklin 1804-1869.
The 14th President of the United States (1853-1857). He was unable to reconcile the issue of slavery that divided the United States.

pierce  (pîrs)
v. pierced, pierc·ing, pierc·es
v.tr.
1. To cut or pass through with or as if with a sharp instrument; stab or penetrate.
2. To make a hole or opening in; perforate.
3. To make a way through: The path pierced the wilderness.
4. To sound sharply through: His shout pierced the din.
5. To succeed in penetrating (something) with the eyes or the intellect: Large glowing yellow eyes pierced the darkness.
v.intr.
To penetrate into or through something: The rocket pierced through space.

[Middle English percen, from Old French percer, probably from Vulgar Latin *pertsire, from Latin pertsus, past participle of pertundere, to bore through : per-, per- + tundere, to beat.]

piercer n.
piercing adj.
piercing·ly adv.

pierce [pɪəs]
vb (mainly tr)
1. to form or cut (a hole) in (something) with or as if with a sharp instrument
2. to thrust into or penetrate sharply or violently the thorn pierced his heel
3. to force (a way, route, etc.) through (something)
4. (of light) to shine through or penetrate (darkness)
5. (also intr) to discover or realize (something) suddenly or (of an idea) to become suddenly apparent
6. (of sounds or cries) to sound sharply through (the silence)
7. to move or affect (a person's emotions, bodily feelings, etc.) deeply or sharply the cold pierced their bones
8. (intr) to penetrate or be capable of penetrating piercing cold
[C13 percen, from Old French percer, ultimately from Latin pertundere, from per through + tundere to strike]
pierceable  adj
piercer  n

Pierce [pɪəs]
n
(Biographies / Pierce, Franklin (1804-1869) M, US, POLITICS: statesman, POLITICS: head of state) Franklin. 1804-69, US statesman; 14th president of the US (1853-57)

pierce


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