piquant: M-W's Word of the Day

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The Word of the Day for August 10 is:

piquant \PEE-kunt\ adjective
1 : agreeably stimulating to the palate; especially : spicy
*2 : engagingly provocative; also : having a lively arch charm

Example sentence:
Reggie's piquant commentary always makes for interesting listening, though sometimes his remarks can go too far.

Did you know?
Piquant flavors "sting" the tongue and piquant words "prick" the intellect, arousing interest. These varying senses reflect the etymology of the word "piquant," which first appeared in English in the 17th century and which derives from the Middle French verb "piquer," meaning "to sting" or "to prick." Though first used to describe foods with spicy flavors, the word is now often used to describe things that are spicy in other ways, such as engaging conversation. Have we piqued your curiosity about another "piquer" offspring? If you've already guessed that the verb "pique," meaning "to offend" or "to arouse by provocation," comes from "piquer," too, you've got a sharp mind.

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