Pierce
Pierce , transitive verb
[Old English percen, French percer, Old French percier, perchier, parchier; perh. from (assumed) Late Latin pertusiare for pertusare, from Latin pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: compare Old French pertuisier to pierce, French pertuis a hole. Compare Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.]
1.
To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument.
I pierce... her tender side.
2.
To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship.
3.
Figuratively: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery.
Pierced with grief.
Can no prayers pierce thee?
Pierce , intransitive verb
To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; -- used literally and figuratively.
And pierced to the skin, but bit no more.
She would not pierce further into his meaning.