Added 9 October 2026
puny
/ˈpjuːni/ adjective
In Latin: pusillus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about puny at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
You puny earthlings are no match for Ming the Merciless!
- Alternative spelling of puisne. Inferior in rank; specifically, of a judge: junior. Coming later in time; secondary, subsequent. Not experienced; novice.
- Inferior in rank; specifically, of a judge: junior.
noun
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An inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person.
: ·
- A younger person; a junior. Alternative spelling of puisne. A person who is not experienced; a beginner, a novice.
- A younger person; a junior.
Origin
A respelling of puisne, from Anglo-Norman puisné (“later, more recent; junior; weakly”) [and other forms] and Middle French puisné (“born after (a specified person); younger, youngest; one who is born after (a specified person)”) (modern French puîné (“cadet (born after a sibling); a cadet (someone born after a sibling)”)), from puis (“after; since”) + né (“born”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)