Poignances

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; the emotional forcefulness that often elicits deep feelings; an intense sincerity or heartfelt nature that resonates strongly with others' emotions
2. A characteristic that stirs profound feelings of sorrow or nostalgia; the inherent ability to touch hearts and provoke tears; the powerful emotional connection that enhances the impact of a moment
3. The ability to trigger strong emotional responses through sadness or pathos; the faculty of creating a lasting impression of heartfelt sentiment; an aspect of experience that invites profound reflective emotions in the audience

Etymology: "Poignances" is the plural of "poignance," a noun formed by adding the suffix "-ance" to the adjective "poignant." The adjective itself descends from French, where "poignant" meant "pricking" or "piercing," the present participle of "poindre," from Latin "pungere," "to prick." The sense of sharp physical pain carried over into the emotional register, so a poignant moment is one that pierces the heart rather than the skin. The suffix does the rest of the work. "-ance" came into English through Old French from Latin "-antia," and it turns an adjective into a noun naming a quality or state. Adding it to "poignant" yields a word for the quality of being poignant, the capacity of something to wound the feelings in a particular way.

Synonyms: emotions, depths, intensities