Sting, subst. 1) a sharp point with which some animals are armed: Lucr. 364. Lucr. 364 Gent. I, 2, 107. Shr. II, 211. Shr. II, 211 H4B IV, 5, 206. H5 I, 2, 193. H6B III, 2, 267. H6C II, 2, 15. H6C II, 2, 15 Troil. V, 10, 43. Caes. II, 1, 16. Mcb. IV, 1, 16. Ant. IV, 15, 26.
2) the thrust made with it: H6B III, 2, 47. H6B III, 2, 47 Applied to other things giving acute pain: “killed by death's sharp s.” Pilgr. 134. “thou bitter sky, thy s. is not so sharp,” As II, 7, 188. “what sharp --s are in her mildest words,” All's III, 4, 18. “slander, whose s. is sharper than the sword's,” Wint. II, 3, 86.
3) impulse, incitement: vow, bond, nor space, in thee (love) “hath neither s., knot, nor confine,” Compl. 265. Especially sexual desire: “the wanton --s and motions of the sense,” Meas. I, 4, 59. “the brutish s.” As II, 7, 66. “our carnal --s,” Oth. I, 3, 335.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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