figurative. To ‘pierce’.

transitive. To affect keenly or deeply with emotion (as pain, grief, etc.); to touch or move deeply. Frequently in to pierce one's heart.

figurative from 1: To pierce, penetrate (as a sound, or an emotion). Obsolete (passing into 5).

figurative. Of a feeling, etc.: To pierce (a person to the heart, to the quick).

transitive. To cause to beat or pulsate, esp. with more than usual force or rapidity, typically as a result of intense emotion or feeling. Also figur…

transitive. figurative. To affect or influence deeply; to touch the heart or feelings of; to cause to hear or take notice. Also intransitive: to…

transitive. To affect keenly or deeply with emotion (typically mental anguish or dismay). Usually in passive.

figurative. To pierce through (esp. with pain, grief, or other emotion); also, to render motionless (with astonishment, horror, etc.).

intransitive. To press or weigh on the heart, mind, etc. Obsolete.

To cause (a pain, an emotion, etc.) to pass rapidly through.