pique

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
pique
    n 1: tightly woven fabric with raised cords
    2: a sudden outburst of anger; "his temper sparked like damp
       firewood" [syn: {pique}, {temper}, {irritation}]
    v 1: cause to feel resentment or indignation; "Her tactless
         remark offended me" [syn: {pique}, {offend}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pique \Pique\, v. i.
   To cause annoyance or irritation. "Every verse hath something
   in it that piques." --Tatler.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Piqu'e \Pi`qu['e]"\, n. [F., p. p. of piquer to prick.]
   A cotton fabric, figured in the loom, -- used as a dress
   goods for women and children, and for vestings, etc.
   [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pique \Pique\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Piqued}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Piquing}.] [F. piquer. See {Pike}.]
   1. To wound the pride of; to sting; to nettle; to irritate;
      to fret; to offend; to excite to anger.
      [1913 Webster]

            Pique her, and soothe in turn.        --Byron.
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   2. To excite to action by causing resentment or jealousy; to
      stimulate; to prick; as, to pique ambition, or curiosity.
      --Prior.
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   3. To pride or value; -- used reflexively.
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            Men . . . pique themselves upon their skill.
                                                  --Locke.
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   Syn: To offend; displease; irritate; provoke; fret; nettle;
        sting; goad; stimulate.
        [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pique \Pique\, n. (Zool.)
   The jigger. See {Jigger}.
   [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pique \Pique\, n. [F., fr. piquer. See {Pike}.]
   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.
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            Men take up piques and displeasures.  --Dr. H. More.
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            Wars had arisen . . . upon a personal pique. --De
                                                  Quincey.
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   2. Keenly felt desire; a longing.
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            Though it have the pique, and long,
            'Tis still for something in the wrong. --Hudibras.
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   3. (Card Playing) In piquet, the right of the elder hand to
      count thirty in hand, or to play before the adversary
      counts one.
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   Syn: Displeasure; irritation; grudge; spite.

   Usage: {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.
          [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
153 Moby Thesaurus words for "pique":
      affect the interest, aggravate, agitate, angry look, animate,
      annoy, annoyance, arouse, attract, awaken, badger, bait, be at,
      bedevil, beset, blow the coals, bother, bristle, brown off, bug,
      bullyrag, burn up, chafe, chivy, concern, devil, dirty look,
      discompose, distemper, disturb, dog, dudgeon, embitter, enliven,
      exasperate, exasperation, excite, excite interest, exercise,
      exhilarate, fan, fan the flame, fascinate, fash, feed the fire,
      ferment, fillip, fire, foment, fret, frown, fume, galvanize, get,
      glare, glower, gripe, harass, harry, heat, heat up, heckle, hector,
      high dudgeon, hound, huff, ignite, impassion, incense, incite,
      inflame, infuse life into, instigate, interest, invigorate, invite,
      involve in, irk, irking, irritate, irritation, jazz up, miff,
      molest, motivate, move, nag, needle, nettle, nudzh, offense, peeve,
      persecute, pester, pet, pick on, pick up, plague, pluck the beard,
      plume, pother, preen, prick, provocation, provoke, punch, put out,
      put up to, quicken, raise, raise up, rally, rankle, renew,
      resentment, resuscitate, revive, ride, rile, roil, rouse, ruffle,
      scowl, set astir, set on, set up, sharpen, sic on, snuff, stew,
      stimulate, stir, stir the blood, stir the embers, stir up,
      tantalize, tease, tickle, tiff, titillate, torment,
      try the patience, turn on, tweak the nose, umbrage, vex, vexation,
      wake up, waken, whet, whip up, work up, worry

    

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