This is the 4606th most frequent German word.
stach
"Stach" is the simple past tense of "stechen," meaning "stung" or "pricked" in English.
Here 'stach' is used as the past tense form of 'stechen,' describing an action completed in the past involving a thorn prick.
Der Dornenstrauch stach ihn, als er vorbeiging.
The thorn bush pricked him as he walked by.
In this sentence, 'stach' metaphorically represents a past action where words caused emotional pain.
Seine scharfe Bemerkung stach wie ein Messer.
His sharp remark stabbed like a knife.
Here 'stach' conveys penetrating action, referring to light breaking through darkness in a figurative language.