punctiliaradj.
/ˌpʌŋ(k)ˈtɪlɪə/, U.S. /ˌpəŋ(k)ˈtɪliər/ Grammar.
= punctual adj. 4e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > punctuality > [adjective]
seelyc1200
critical1617
punctual1632
prepunctual1890
on time1891
punctiliar1906
1906 J. H. Moulton Gram. N.T. Greek I. vi. 109 The Aorist has a ‘punctiliar’ action, that is, it regards action as a point. [note] I venture to accept from a correspondent this new-coined word to represent the German punktuell, the English of which is preoccupied.
1923 Mod. Lang. Jrnl. 7 352 We may say that the imperfect denotes durative or linear action, the past definite punctiliar or point action.
1982 Amer. Speech 57 9 We find that be is anomalous in a context which implies punctiliar activity, such as He be busy right now.
1997 V. Heeschen in G. Senft Referring to Space viii. 179 The absence of any tense/aspect suffix signals ‘punctiliar aspect’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1906- selfmoving
- selfmultiplied
- selfmultiplying
- selfmurder
- selfmurdered
- selfmurderer
- selfmurdering
- selfmutilation
- selfnamed
- selfnaughting
- selfnegating
- selfneglect
- selfneglectful
- selfneglecting
- selfnescience
- selfness
- selfnesses
- selfnoise
- selfnothingness
- selfobjectification
- selfobservation
- selfobserving
- selfobsessed
- selfobsession
- selfobstined