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-al1; see pungent
Acting or arriving exactly at the time appointed; prompt.
Paid or accomplished at or by the appointed time.
Precise; exact.
Confined to or having the nature of a point in space.
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.
[puhngk-choo-uh
l] 