pierce
UK[pɪəs]US[pɪrs]
v
to make a small hole in or through something using a sharp object
v
(of a sound, light, or feeling) to be suddenly and clearly heard, seen, or felt
Etymology
the verb "pierce" entered english in the 13th century from the old french "percer," meaning "to bore through, penetrate." the old french term likely evolved from the vulgar latin "pertusiare," a derivative of the latin past participle "pertusus," meaning "bored through," which itself comes from "pertundere" ("to thrust or bore through"). the core semantic thread from latin to modern english is the forceful action of creating an opening or passing through a barrier, a concept which later extended metaphorically to describe sensations like sharp sounds or cold that seem to penetrate the body or mind.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from old french. it is not productively composed of smaller, independent morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the needle is used to pierce the fabric.
a sudden scream pierced the silence of the night.
the cold wind pierced through his thin jacket.