ANSWER: What is the difference between peak, peek, and pique?

[stoopbeck.livejournal.com]

As of today, we have answered 100 questions. Happy 100, fandom_grammar!


blackmare_9 asks, "What is the difference between peak, peek, and pique?"



Homonyms like peek, peak, and pique can cause all kinds of interesting problems when you are trying to write.

Peak has many definitions. Dictionary.com has fifteen! However, they can all be boiled down to this one: "the highest or most important point or level." The height of an actor's career would be the peak. The peak of a show would be the night the most people watched it. The single highest point on a mountain? The peak.

Nimueh was at the peak of her power when Arthur was born.

"Gaius," Arthur shouted, "you sent Merlin to a place called Devil's Peak to gather herbs. What did you think was going to happen?!"

Merlin always enjoyed the peak of harvest time back in Ealdor, when everyone worked together to bring crops in for the winter.

Dictionary.com defines peek as "to look or glance quickly or furtively, esp. through a small opening or from a concealed location; peep; peer." Basically, if you are using your eyes, it's a safe bet to go with peek. (This is also why you use sneak peek instead of sneak peak, because you are sneaking a look, not a mountain.)

Merlin peeked around the corner. The guards were gone and the coast was clear.

Arthur ignored the corner of the magic book peeking out from under Merlin's bed.

"Are you sure you've completely mucked out the stables, Merlin? You won't mind if I take a quick peek?"

There are two main definitions for pique. The first is "to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, esp. by some wound to pride."

Arthur had, in a fit of pique, decided that a day in the stocks was a suitable punishment for a slight spill on his favorite shirt.

Morgana was piqued when she found out who had stolen her favorite dress.

The second is "to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.)." This is a real troublemaker, but just remember -- pique means to excite. You weren't curious before, and now you are.

Merlin shrugged. "I thought you wouldn't be interested, honestly."

Arthur glared at him. "A horrible fire-breathing, maiden-devouring monster is making its way toward my city, Merlin. Consider my interest piqued."

Remember, if it involves looking, go with peek. If it is the highest or the tallest or the most important, go with peak. If it has an effect on an emotional state, like curiosity or jealousy, your best bet is pique.

Comments

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this.

Now I have a webpage to link to whenever I read atrocities such as "He peaked into the bedroom to witness her pert peeks..." in the smutfics I like to read.

[zanthlay.livejournal.com]

"Basically, if you are using your eyes, it's a safe bet to go with peek. (This is also why you use sneak peek instead of sneak peak, because you are sneaking a look, not a mountain.)"

Haha, I love it! :D Now I have a good example to use when people write sneak peak!

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

I am so happy to see this here! Because when I peek at a fic and someone misuses "peak" when they mean something else, I get a little piqued.