pearce
v. C2 Proficiency US //ˈpɪɹs// pearce
v. an old way of spelling 'pierce'. It means to make a hole in something with a sharp point.
v. an archaic spelling of 'pierce'; to penetrate or make a hole in something using a sharp instrument.
The knight used his sword to pearce the shield.
In the old manuscript, the writer describes how the arrow did pearce the thick leather of the soldier's armor.
Scholars of Early Modern English often encounter variant spellings like 'pearce' in texts where orthography had not yet been standardized to the modern 'pierce'.
Usage
Archaic spelling variant; transitive and requires a direct object.
Pitfall
He pearce the paper.He pierced the paper.In modern English, the spelling 'pierce' is used; 'pearce' is only found in historical or archaic texts.