Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Puny
Pu′ny
,Adj.
[
Com
par.
Punier
; sup
erl.
Puniest
.] [F.
puîté
younger, later born, OF. puisné
; puis
afterwards (L. post
; see Post-
) + né
born, L. natus
. See Natal
, and cf. Puisne
.] Imperfectly developed in size or vigor; small and feeble; inferior; petty.
A
puny
subject strikes at thy great glory. Shakespeare
Breezes laugh to scorn our
puny
speed. Keble.
Pu′ny
,Noun.
A youth; a novice.
[R.]
Fuller.
Webster 1828 Edition
Puny
PU'NY
, a.1.
Properly, young or younger; but in this sense not used.2.
Inferior; petty; of an under rate; small and feeble. This word generally includes the signification of both smallness and feebleness; as a puny animal; a puny subject; a puny power; a puny mind.PU'NY
,Noun.
Definition 2025
puny
puny
English
Noun
puny (plural punies)
- (obsolete) A new pupil at a school etc.; a junior student.
- (obsolete) A younger person.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.12:
- a law that the eldest or first borne child shall succeed and inherit all: where nothing at all is reserved for Punies, but obedience […].
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.12:
- (obsolete) A beginner, a novice.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Fuller to this entry?)
- (archaic) An inferior person; a subordinate.
Adjective
puny (comparative punier, superlative puniest)
- Of inferior size, strength or significance.
- Shakespeare
- A puny subject strikes at thy great glory.
- Keble
- Breezes laugh to scorn our puny speed.
- Shakespeare
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:scrawny
Translations
of inferior size
|
|
See also
Catalan
Etymology
From Old Provençal, from Latin pugnus, from Proto-Indo-European *puǵnos, *puḱnos, from *pewǵ-, *peuḱ- (“prick, punch”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [puɲ]
Noun
puny m (plural punys)
Related terms
- punyal