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Pique   /pik/   Listen
noun
Pique  n.  A cotton fabric, figured in the loom, used as a dress goods for women and children, and for vestings, etc.


Pique  n.  (Zool.) The jigger. See Jigger.


Pique  n.  
1.
A feeling of hurt, vexation, or resentment, awakened by a social slight or injury; irritation of the feelings, as through wounded pride; stinging vexation. "Men take up piques and displeasures." "Wars had arisen... upon a personal pique."
2.
Keenly felt desire; a longing. "Though it have the pique, and long, 'Tis still for something in the wrong."
3.
(Card Playing) In piquet, the right of the elder hand to count thirty in hand, or to play before the adversary counts one.
Synonyms: Displeasure; irritation; grudge; spite. Pique, Spite, Grudge. Pique denotes a quick and often transient sense of resentment for some supposed neglect or injury, but it is not marked by malevolence. Spite is a stronger term, denoting settled ill will or malice, with a desire to injure, as the result of extreme irritation. Grudge goes still further, denoting cherished and secret enmity, with an unforgiving spirit. A pique is usually of recent date; a grudge is that which has long subsisted; spite implies a disposition to cross or vex others.


verb
Pique  v. t.  (past & past part. piqued; pres. part. piquing)  
1.
To wound the pride of; to sting; to nettle; to irritate; to fret; to offend; to excite to anger. "Pique her, and soothe in turn."
2.
To excite to action by causing resentment or jealousy; to stimulate; to prick; as, to pique ambition, or curiosity.
3.
To pride or value; used reflexively. "Men... pique themselves upon their skill."
Synonyms: To offend; displease; irritate; provoke; fret; nettle; sting; goad; stimulate.


Pique  v. i.  To cause annoyance or irritation. "Every verse hath something in it that piques."





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Pique" Quotes from Famous Books



... pass'd, since, in thy prime, Plunging from off the shatter'd Blanche, o'erboard Amid the moonlight waves, twas thine to climb La Pique's torn side, ...
— Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 356, June, 1845 • Various
... you didn't read your paper very carefully," said Raffles, with the first trace of pique in his tone. "It was rain that closed play before five o'clock. I hear it was a sultry day in town, but at Manchester we got the storm, and the ground was under water in ten minutes. I never saw ...
— A Thief in the Night • E. W. Hornung
... was the lion of the evening, and I think that he was very pleased. I hoped that he had forgotten the unpleasant incident of the morning and Delsarte, of whom Monsieur Due cleverly remarked, "Qui s'y frotte s'y pique—." ...
— In the Courts of Memory 1858-1875. • L. de Hegermann-Lindencrone
... liked to enter into the humours of a Court; to devote his brilliant imagination and affluence of invention either to devising a pageant which should throw all others into the shade, or a compromise which should get great persons out of some difficulty of temper or pique. ...
— Bacon - English Men Of Letters, Edited By John Morley • Richard William Church
... Christianity, too, it was a religion catholic and apostolic, for the truth of which many faithful witnesses had laid down their lives. It was, besides, the creed of an ancient race; and the mystery that shrouded it had a charm to pique the vanity even of self-sufficient Greeks, and stir up curiosity even in Roman arrogance and indifference. The doctrines of Buddha were eminently fitted to elucidate the doctrines of Christ, and therefore worthy to engage ...
— The English Governess At The Siamese Court • Anna Harriette Leonowens


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