Emily Dickinson Lexicon

pod (-s), n. [Origin unknown.] (webplay: seed, thread).

1. Shell; cocoon; seed casing; exterior hull; outer covering; protective sac which allows its contents to grow and develop.
2. [Fig.] nest; house; habitation.
3. [Fig.] tomb; grave; casket; sepulcher.
4. [Fig.] origin; impetus; source; wellspring; starting point.
5. Phrase. “In pod”: preparing to bloom.

poem (-s), n. [Fr. < L. poēma < Gk πόημα, thing made or created, work, fiction, poetical work < ποιε Ãν, to make.]

1. Verse; sonnet; metrical composition; text characterized by beautiful language and expressive imagery; [fig.] work; creative endeavor.
2. [Fig.] profound thing; eloquent expression of beauty; deeply moving experience.

poesy, n. [OFr < L. poēsis, poetry, poem < Gk πόησις, a making, creation, poetry, poem.] (webplay: metrical, Poet Laureate).

Poetry; music; melody; art of writing verse; [fig.] power of beautiful expression; ability to conjure up vivid images in the mind; [pun on posy] bouquet; nosegay; bunch of flowers.

poet (-'s, -s), n. [ME < OFr < L. < Gk ποητής, maker, author, poet.] (webplay: art, beauties, feeling, heavenly, license, prose, sing, write).

1. Bard; verse writer; wordsmith; author of metrical compositions; creator of eloquently expressive texts; one who possesses the ability to describe objects and events with deeply moving language; person with the power to conjure up vivid images in the mind through words.
2. [Fig.] thing or idea with the ability to elicit profound emotions.
3. [Fig.] gloriously beautiful day.

poetry, n. [ME < late L. poetrīa < poēta, poet.]

1. Verse; metrical composition; figurative text; written work characterized by beautifully descriptive language and eloquent expression
2. Text characterized by highly exaggerated description; [fig.] embellished memory; glamorized recollection; glorified remembrance.
3. [Fig.] intensely beautiful thing; profoundly moving experience; occurrence which elicits deep emotions.

poignancy, n. [see poignant, adj.]

Severity; intensity; asperity; harshness; bitterness; suffering; discomfort.

poignant, adj. [ME < OFr < L. pungěre, prick, pierce.]

Agonizing; excruciating; tortuous; stinging; stimulating; pleasantly piquant.

poinard (-s), n. [Variant of poniard < Fr. poing, fist + OFr -ard < Ger. -hard, hardy.]

Dagger; knife; stiletto; sharp stabbing weapon;[fig.] apparently jagged edges of a visible bolt of lightning.

point, n. [Fr. < L. punct-um, that which is pricked, prick, dot, point in writing, point in space, point of time, small measure, particular of a discourse or L. pungěre < poindre, to prick, pierce.] (webplay: fear, point of death, prove, sharp).

1. Question; argument; problem; matter; difficult situation.
2. Meaning; purpose; reason; explanation; significance; message; theme; moral; [fig.] resolution; outcome; denouement.
3. Degree; extent; magnitude; [fig.] sharpness; poignancy; cruelty; severity; intensity.

point (-ed), v. [ME < OFr point-er, prick, mark with pricks or dots.] (webplay: answers, eye, full, great, hand, speaking, tune).

1. Direct; lead; guide; focus the attention of.
2. Indicate; show; reveal; signify; mark.
3. Phrase. “Point at”: mock; ridicule; scorn; laugh at; make fun of.