pique

_pique_

Verb.

Pronunciation: piːk.

Etymology: from French piquer (= sting, stimulate, irritate, excite).

Preterite tense: piqued (piːkt). Preterite participle: piqued.

Present participle: piquing.

Transitively: 1. To cause pique, resentment or anger in (a person).

Translation: piquer, in French; picar, in Spanish; irritare, in Italian.

Synonyms: to displease, offend, irritate annoy; fret.

Antonyms: to please, gratify, flatter; soothe, mollify, appease.

I felt half convinced that her refusal to sing was in consequence of our scientific conversation. I was little enough to enjoy the petty triumph of having piqued her without intending it.

John Motley… Morton’s Hope

For once Mary felt piqued and offended.

Caroline Norton… The wife, and Woman’s reward

I think Mr. Wentworth was piqued about your early engagement with Charles Wilson.

Graham's Magazine, vol., 20-21

The audience were evidently piqued about something which might have been easily explained

Henry Cockton… Adventures of Valentine Vox

"Certainly, sir — if I have the right to approve or disapprove," answered the old lady, who, in spite of the natural excellence of her heart, was somewhat piqued at not having been previously consulted upon the subject.

George Reynolds… The mysteries of London

-) To pique one’s pride: to affect one’s pride, by slighting.

She is rich, and her gold must be obtained for our necessities; but pique her pride so as to prevent her listening to the representations of De Lorges to induce her to help La Rochelle.

Louisa Costello… The Queen's Poisoner

She had heard enough to pique her pride.

Mary Robinson… A Letter to the Women of England

I own my pride was piqued by this opinion of Miss Mortimer's.

Mary Brunton… Discipline

2. To incite (a person) to something, as if by piercing.

Synonyms: to stimulate, excite, instigate.

-) With the preposition to + a noun or an infinitive:

I do not know why this innocent pleasantry piqued me to say: "If I understand the Altrurians, my dear fellow, nothing could induce them to emigrate to America. As far as I can make out, they would regard it very much as we should regard settling among the Eskimos."

William Howells… A Traveler from Altruria

This line of argument perfectly satisfied my reason; while a strong feeling of something like curiosity piqued me to proceed…

Charles Lever… The Irish Dragoon

The admiration which others might express for her charms and accomplishments would never pique him to competition.

Maria Edgeworth… Leonora

-) With the preposition into + a gerund:

   "You are always so provoking, Robert. Cecil never cares of whom 1 talk; but listens with patience and good humour;—I wish you would take example by her.”

          "Thank you, my good mamma; but I am out of the nursery now, and not to be piqued into being a good boy through emulation, which said emulation, […] generally degenerates into vanity on one side, and jealousy and dislike on the other.

Ellen Pickering… The Quiet Husband

I do not know whether my readers will thank me for resuming my labours, when I tell them that I have been fairly piqued into doing so by a visit which an acquaintance has [… made to me].

Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashion

3. To cause (a feeling), as if by piercing.

Ha, ha, ha! What does it matter how I took possession of the papers in his iron box? Perhaps he confided it to my hands for you, perhaps it was locked and my curiosity was piqued, perhaps I suppressed it.

Charles Dickens… Little Dorrit

The magnificence of his description piqued the curiosity of his employer, who expressed a strong desire to dine for once at this decoy-house.

Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashion

4. Reflexively: to become proud of something.

Synonyms: to pride oneself.

Translation: se piquer, in French; picarse, in Spanish; inorgoglirsi, in Italian.

-) With the preposition on, or upon + a noun, or a gerund, by which the cause of the pride is designated:

[…] she piqued herself on the precise neatness of all her chamber arrangements, and used to look uneasily at me when I lighted a bed-candle to go to another room for anything.

Elizabeth Gaskell… Cranford

What she piqued herself upon, as arts in which she excelled, was making candle-lighters, or “spills” (as she preferred calling them), of coloured paper, cut so as to resemble feathers, and knitting garters in a variety of dainty stitches.

Elizabeth Gaskell… Cranford

Meanwhile a change was going on at the card table. Lord Lindmoor and Mrs. Praed had lost two double rubbers, and the loss had not increased the willingness of either to be pleased, since both piqued themselves on playing a very good game.

Ellen Pickering… The Quiet Husband

Flinter lost his triumphant look, and skulked about, doubting whether he had not done more harm than good by the stratagem on which he had before so piqued himself.

Ellen Pickering… The Quiet Husband

[…] for the Normans piqued themselves on the quality rather than the quantity of their food…

Walter Scott… The Betrothed

-) With the preposition at, or in + a noun or a gerund, by which the cause of the pride is designated:

[…] we returned in the evening not at all fatigued, and piqued ourselves at not being outdone at the nightly ball by our less active friends, who had remained at home.

James Boswell… The Life of Samuel Johnson

That's where I pique myself in showing what I am.

The Anglo-American Magazine, Volume 7