trenchant, trenchand

[O. Fr. trenchant, pr. par. of trencher to cut.] [TRENCH, v.] 1. Sharp, cutting. "The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty For want of fighting was grown rusty." Butler: Hudibras, I. i. 2. Sharp, keen, unsparing, severe; as, trenchant criticism. pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, trenchantly trench-ant-ly, adv. [Eng. trenchant; -ly.] In a trenchant manner; sharply, severely. "Mr. Gladstone's action and position with regard to Home Rule are also most trenchantly dealt with."-London Morning Post.