Puny

_puny_

Adjective.

Pronunciation and accent: pjuːnɪ.

Etymology: from Old French puisné (= literally: born after; hence: younger), which is analysed into puis (= afterwards) + né (= born).

Comparative form: punier.

Superlative form: puniest.

1. Obsolete values: a. Junior. b. Recent. c. Inexperienced.

2. Characterized by puniness: a. (Of something corporeal) of little size. b. (Of something incorporeal) of little importance. c. (Of a person) of little estimation; petty. d. (Of a human being or another animal) of little size; of small growth; undersized.

Antonyms: massive, stout, corpulent; paramount, great.

Translation: chétif, in French; pequeño, in Spanish; piccolo, in Italian.

But this was puny expense compared with that which they often incurred, by the damage done to the furniture and servants, in the madness of their intoxication, as well as the loss they sustained at hazard.

Tobias Smollett… The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

The hangman turned and bowed in mock reverence to the spectators beneath him. He had not yet learned in a land of puny archers how sure and how strong is the English bow.

Arthur Doyle… Sir Nigel

[…] A nearly invisible smoke came from the puny chimney of the hut.

Thomas Hardy… The Hand of Ethelberta

 […] their concerns were puny in comparison with their pretensions

Harriet Martineau… British rule in India

The next day we made a valuable addition to our household. Among the Indians who came out to work was a lad who spoke Spanish. He was the puniest, lankest, and leanest of any we had seen on the hacienda, and his single garment was the dirtiest.

John Stephens… Incidents of Travel in Yucatan

"Well, here is the youngster, Mrs. Sharp," he said, on alighting from his vehicle. "He is rather smaller and punier than I like, but I have no doubt that he will prove willing and obedient."

T. S. Arthur… Lizzy Glenn

Words derived from puny: punyish, punyism, puniness.