I. ˈpyünē, -ni adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle French puisné younger, literally, born afterward, from puis afterward (from — assumed — Vulgar Latin postius, compar. of Latin post after, afterward) + né born — more at post- , n é
1. obsolete
a. : puisne
b. : junior
c. : recent , subsequent
d. : inexperienced , unskilled
2. : slight or inferior in power, vigor, or importance : lacking in force or vitality : weak , insignificant , sickly
was cowed by their indifference to him, and felt puny — G.D.Brown
man's mechanical skill has permitted him to raise to the nth power his puny strength — E.A.Hooton
pitted my puny opinion against the judgment of the medical world — V.G.Heiser
the sun is not the only heavenly body which puny man attempts to coerce by his magic — J.G.Frazer
Synonyms: see petty
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French puisné younger son, from puisné, adjective
obsolete : puisne , junior , novice , subordinate