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pique1

[peek]
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verb (used with object), piqued, piqu·ing.
  1. to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, especially by some wound to pride: She was greatly piqued when they refused her invitation.
  2. to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.).
  3. to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.): Her curiosity was piqued by the gossip.
  4. to arouse an emotion or provoke to action: to pique someone to answer a challenge.
  5. Archaic. to pride (oneself) (usually followed by on or upon).
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verb (used without object), piqued, piqu·ing.
  1. to arouse pique in someone: an action that piqued when it was meant to soothe.
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noun
  1. a feeling of irritation or resentment, as from a wound to pride or self-esteem: to be in a pique.
  2. Obsolete. a state of irritated feeling between persons.
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Origin of pique1

1525–35; < Middle French pique (noun), piquer (v.) < Vulgar Latin *piccare to pick1; see pickax, pike2, piqué
Related formsun·piqued, adjective
Can be confusedpeak peek pique piqué

Synonyms

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1. offend, sting, nettle, vex, irritate, chafe. 2. affront. 3. stimulate, stir, prick, incite, goad.

Antonyms

1. please. 2. compliment.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for piquing

Historical Examples

  • There was no assault of the alien nature upon his own, irresistible because so piquing.

    The Prisoner

    Alice Brown

  • The young lady, piquing herself on her constancy, refused her new admirer.

  • They seem to have made caricatures of him, piquing themselves, no doubt, upon the durability of the marble in which they worked.

  • Judkins is rather a dandy than otherwise, piquing himself somewhat on his apparel.

    George Walker at Suez

    Anthony Trollope

  • It is the only part on which I have bestowed much pains, for the difficulty was piquing, not piquant.

British Dictionary definitions for piquing

pique1

noun
  1. a feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one's pride wounded
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verb piques, piquing or piqued (tr)
  1. to cause to feel resentment or irritation
  2. to excite or arouse
  3. (foll by on or upon) to pride or congratulate (oneself)
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Word Origin

C16: from French, from piquer to prick, sting; see pick 1

pique2

noun
  1. a score of 30 points made by a player from a combination of cards held before play begins and from play while his opponent's score is nil
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verb
  1. to score a pique (against)
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Word Origin

C17: from French pic, of uncertain origin

piqué

noun
  1. a close-textured fabric of cotton, silk, or spun rayon woven with lengthwise ribs
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Word Origin

C19: from French piqué pricked, from piquer to prick
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for piquing

pique

n.

1530s, "fit of ill feeling," from Middle French pique "a prick, sting, irritation," noun of action from piquer (see pike (n.2)).

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pique

v.

"to excite to anger," 1670s, from French piquer "to prick, sting" (see pike (n.2)). Softened meaning "to stimulate, excite" is from 1690s. Related: Piqued; piquing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper