v. Also 6 empierse, empeirce, enpearce, imperse. [f. EN-, IN- + PIERCE v.] trans. To pierce through keenly; to transfix. lit. and fig.
1578. T. Proctor, Gorg. Gallery, Pyramus & Th. Sweete pendant, now in wofull brest Impersid.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iv. 19. I am too sore enpearced with his shaft, To soare with his light feathers, and to bound.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 129. To arte-enamel your speech to empeirce … soules.
1621. Quarles, Esther, § 10. Like painted swords They near impierc’d Queen Esthers tender heart.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, I. III. v. The vast thumps of massie hammers noise, Empierc’d mine ears.
1751. Gilb. West, Education, xxxvii. 24. [His] tender Breast Empierced deep with sympathizing Teen.
1855. Fraser’s Mag., LI. 89. The horrible thorns empierced the bone.
b. intr.
1814. Cary, Dante (Chandos ed.), 147. Through the orbs of all, A thread of wire, impiercing, knits them up.
Hence Empierced, Empiercing ppl. adjs.
1604. Drayton, Moyses, I. 27 (L.). He feeds those secret and impiercing flames. Ibid. (1612), Poly-olb., xxii. (1748), 341/2. The brinish tears drop’d down, on mine impierced breast.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., XIII. xlv. 241. O, let our fleshly Barks still ride At anchor in calm Streams of His empierced SIDE!
