French Conversation · Level 79
60 words
French word
lancinant
Pronunciation
IPA/lɑ̃sinɑ̃/
Meaning
- adjectivethrobbing
Example
La douleur lancinante me réveille la nuit.
The throbbing pain wakes me up at night.
More examples
Un mal de tête lancinant m'empêche de travailler.
A piercing headache prevents me from working.
Core concept
A small sharp point keeps piercing the same place in waves of pain.
Common phrases
mal de tête lancinant
piercing headache
mal dentaire lancinant
piercing toothache
Similar words
aigu: A sharp, stabbing pain felt suddenly.
perçant: A sharp pain that seems to pierce deeply.
pulsatile: Pain that grows stronger in rhythm with the heartbeat.
Definition in French
Qui qualifie une douleur qui revient par accès, pénétrante et répétée, comme si quelque chose perçait la région touchée.
Word origin
French lancinant comes from Latin lancinans, the present participle of lancinare, meaning "to tear or lacerate," and retains this piercing sense.
Usage tips
- Lancinant suits recurring toothache, headache, or back pain, while aigu more often describes a sudden sharp pain.
Other meanings
- stabbingadjective
Opposites
- sourddulladjective
Related words
- lancinercause to throbverb
- lancinementthrobbing painnoun