piquantlyadv.
/ˈpiːk(ə)ntli/, U.S. /ˈpik(w)ən(t)li/ In a piquant manner (in various senses of the adjective).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [adverb] > severely or sternly
sternlyc897
stitha1000
sterna1175
foulc1275
stithlya1300
steevely1340
austerely?a1400
smartlya1400
unsternlya1400
sore1484
shrewdly1490
dourlya1500
severely1548
roundly1567
severe1599
fiercely1611
piquantly1691
the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > [adverb] > in racy or exciting manner
piquantly1691
colourfully1907
saltily1926
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [adverb] > specifically of utterance
sharply1340
shrewdlyc1386
piquantly1691
1691 J. Dunton Voy. round World III. i. 55 No Injuries are so picquantly resisted by generous Spirit as those that come attended with contempt.
1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. xxvi. 147 If an Orator,..hath been piquantly censorious.
1738 J. Constable Conversat. of Gentlemen 29 Some..think themselves picquantly injured while they are ingeniously praised.
1825 R. P. Ward Tremaine III. iii. 17 This little French girl..was dressed so piquantely, in a jacket and short jupe.
1882 Harper's Mag. Dec. 54/2 The village is piquantly foreign.
1971 Gourmet Feb. 12/1 The escalope à l'estragon was thin, pink, tender, and piquantly flavored with butter, white wine, and tarragon.
1990 Daughters of Sarah Mar.–Apr. 32/2 It is very well written and full of piquantly expressed nuggets of wisdom.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1691