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punctual

 - 3 dictionary results

punc⋅tu⋅al

  [puhngk-choo-uhl]
Use punctual in a Sentence
–adjective
1. strictly observant of an appointed or regular time; not late; prompt.
2. made, occurring, etc., at the scheduled or proper time: punctual payment.
3. pertaining to or of the nature of a point.
4. punctilious.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML pūnctuālis of a point, equiv. to L pūnctu(s) a point, a pricking (pung(ere) to prick + -tus suffix of v. action) + -ālis -al 1 ; see pungent

Related forms:
punc⋅tu⋅al⋅ly, adverb
punc⋅tu⋅al⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To punctual
punc·tu·al   (pŭngk'chōō-əl)   
adj.  

  1. Acting or arriving exactly at the time appointed; prompt.

  2. Paid or accomplished at or by the appointed time.

  3. Precise; exact.

  4. Confined to or having the nature of a point in space.

  5. Linguistics Of, related to, or being the verbal aspect that expresses momentary action or action considered as having no temporal duration.


[Middle English, sharp-pointed, from Medieval Latin pūnctuālis, from Latin pūnctum, point, from neuter past participle of pungere, to prick; see pungent.]
punc'tu·al'i·ty (-āl'ĭ-tē), punc'tu·al·ness (-əl-nĭs) n., punc'tu·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

punctual 
c.1400, from M.L. punctualis (c.1210), from L. punctus "a pricking" (see point). Originally "having a sharp point;" meaning "prompt" first recorded 1675, from notion of "insisting on fine points." Punctuality "exactness" is from 1620.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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