punctualityn.
/ˌpʌŋ(k)tʃʊˈalᵻti/, /ˌpʌŋ(k)tjʊˈalᵻti/, U.S. /ˌpəŋ(k)(t)ʃəˈwælədi/ a. Scrupulousness in regard to matters of conduct or etiquette; formality, ceremoniousness. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [noun] > seemly behaviour or propriety > strict decorum
formc1405
galancie1581
ceremoniousness1583
punctilio1596
formality1599
ceremony1603
punctuality1618
punctillea1648
complementalness1657
formalness1684
punctiliousness1685
nicety1693
ceremonial1749
square-toedness1846
punctiliosity1859
uptightness1969
1618 T. Middleton Peace-maker sig. D2 This punctualitie of Reputation, is no better then a Bewitching Sorcerie.
1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. E The state were miserable if the Court had none Of her owne breede..With forme, and punctuallity to receiue Stranger Embassadours.
1742 M. Akenside Let. to Dyson in Poems (1845) 15 Those precisenesses of form and punctuality.
1755 S. Johnson Let. 6 May (1992) I. 106 Your own Elegance of manners and punctuality of complaisance.
1800 J. Moore Mordaunt III. xc. 242 Being well acquainted with your punctuality, I might rely on your word of honour.
b. As a count noun: a nicety of conduct or etiquette, a petty formality; = punctilio n. 1a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > honourableness > [noun] > point of honour > detailed
punto1584
punctilio1596
punctille1610
punctuality1621
punkettoa1625
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [noun] > seemly behaviour or propriety > strict decorum > a detail of
punto1584
punctilio1596
punctille1610
punctuality1621
punkettoa1625
1621 H. Wotton Let. 21 Sept. in L. P. Smith Life & Lett. Sir H. Wotton (1907) II. 217 No man living was more averse than myself from petty punctualities.
1641 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. F. Biondi Hist. Civil Warres Eng. I. iv. 88 All punctuallities are vaine if unusefull, and foolish if harmfull.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 112. ⁋1 He that too long observes nice punctualities.
1775 P. Duigenan Pranceriana 121 An attempt to turn our eyes from old latitude of opinion by new observances and punctualities.
2. † a. Methodical attention to detail; exactness, precision; (occasionally) an instance of this. Obsolete.† b. A precise point, a detail; a nicety. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > [noun] > quality of being specific or detailed
specialty1384
circumstance1393
punctuality1620
punctualness1620
specializing1633
particularity1638
detailedness1842
specificality1858
detailism1865
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [noun]
nicetya1393
curiosityc1400
suretya1500
justness1533
preciseness1569
accurateness1611
punctuality1620
punctualness1620
mathematicality1641
accuracy1644
expressness1645
exactness1646
veracity1666
niceness1678
correctness1684
criticalness1693
precision1698
punctuosity1733
definitude1836
minutia1849
definition1866
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote ii. xlvii. 313 To recount with all the punctualitie, & truth that he vsually doth.
1632 P. Massinger Emperour of East i. ii. sig. C2v I haue..With curious punctualitie set downe To a haires breadth, how low a new stamp'd courtier May vaile to a country Gentleman.
1723 H. Rowlands Mona Antiqua Restaurata ix. 109 Considering the Punctuality of that Historian's Writing (never omitting principal Characters..if they had been there).
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 62. ⁋9 I can relate, with great punctuality, the lives of all the last race of wits and beauties.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles v. 171 St. Mark, with his usual punctuality, says 'about two thousand' [sc. the Gadarene swine], were feeding on the neighbouring cliffs.
1875 M. Pattison I. Casaubon iv. 242 Scaliger is an accurate and satisfactory correspondent: replying himself to each topic started in the letter he is answering; a punctuality which Casaubon does not imitate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > [noun] > quality of being specific or detailed > a detail or particular > minute
minutea1450
quidlibet1611
punto1623
punctilio1631
nicety1649
punctuality1661
minutiae1797
1661 J. Fell Life Hammond 95 His Memory, 'twas..faithful to things and business, but unwillingly retaining the contexture and punctualities of words.
1714 D. Manley Adventures of Rivella 12 She understands good Breeding to a Punctuality.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. viii. §43. 616 I kept no Journal... Therefore I am sensible that many Punctualities are here wanting.
1822 J. Galt Provost ix. 69 Well enough versed in the particulars and punctualities of the law for an ordinary plea.
c. Grammar. The quality of occurring at a particular and finite point in time; the punctual aspect of a verb. Cf. punctual adj. 4e.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > aspect > [noun] > punctual aspect > quality of
punctuality1955
1955 Language 31 58 Here we have a contrast between saviez..and sûtes intended to emphasize the non-punctuality of saviez..as against the congruency (though not punctuality) of fut.
1971 Archivum Linguisticum 2 113 Both notions (non-duration and punctuality) became unified at a certain time, that is to say, their meanings became compatible, appearing alternatively according to context.
1992 Hispania 73 1146/1 The ‘punctuality’ of the preterit, the segment of time used by the action represented by the preterit, with its beginning and ending well defined.
3.
a. Precise observance of rule or obligation; rigorousness in the performance of duty; scrupulousness. Now rare or merged in sense 3c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [noun]
i-kepyngec1230
heed1357
keepingc1380
observancea1393
observation?a1425
contemplation1440
observing1458
conscience1483
conservation1544
heedfulness1561
heediness1596
religion1597
observancy1609
punctualness1620
punctuality1622
heeding1678
adherence1715
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > [noun] > conscientiousness > meticulous
conscience1483
scrupleness1489
scruple1526
scrupulosity1526
queasiness1576
punctualness1620
punctuality1622
scrupulousness1689
overscrupulousness1740
superstition1755
overscrupulosity1829
over-scruple1894
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue viii. 339 A nights I..waited on him with that obseruance and punctualitie, that the greatest Prince in the world could not bee better serued.
1640 J. Howell Δενδρολογια 169 Those that..hereafter should serve other Princes with that punctuality as Sophronio had done.
1689 D. Granville in Surtees Misc. (1858) 95 I did faithfully, and with as much punctuallity as I was able, discharge those trusts.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson (ed. 2) iii. x. 535 The resolution of the English at the fire, and their trustiness and punctuality elsewhere, was the general subject of conversation.
1828 Times 17 Mar. 4/6 The formal punctuality with which all the documents..were said to have been kept.
1863 A. Blomfield Mem. Bp. Blomfield II. ix. 185 Scrupulous punctuality in all his engagements.
1928 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. 138 108/2 Is it unreasonable to believe that..the Soviet Government would carry out its credit obligations with the most scrupulous punctuality?
b. As a count noun: an instance of scrupulousness or rigorousness of conduct; a point of duty or right. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > [noun] > conscientiousness > meticulous > a point of
punctuality1639
1639 G. Digby in G. Digby & K. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 74 There were so many circumstances that might tempt and lead them from the exact punctualities of a sincere conveyer.
1679 H. Dodwell Separation Churches from Episcopal Govt. vi. 149 Is it..that God under the Gospel is not conceived to be so rigorous in exacting external Punctualities as under the Law?
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 70. ⁋5 Ready to exact the utmost punctualities of right, and to consider every man that fails in any part of his duty, as without conscience.
1858 J. Martineau Stud. Christianity 131 What..must have been the feelings of the Hebrew, when told that all his punctualities had been thrown away?
1871 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily Gaz. 12 Jan. Improvident Ludlow may have been, and unmindful of the punctualities which govern business life and men, but [etc.].
1970 Amer. Lit. 42 77 Individual needs..must be sacrificed to the punctualities of the job, the ignorant securities of rule and routine.
c. Exact observance of appointed times; the fact or habit of being on time. (Now the usual sense.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > punctuality > [noun]
punctualness1620
punctuality1640
timekeeping1694
1640 J. Howell Δενδρολογια 28 I commend them for their plain downe-right dealing, and punctuality in payment of cambios, contracts and the Souldiers Salary.
1757 R. Lowth Let. 17 Oct. in J. E. Tierney Corr. R. Dodsley (1988) 294 When a man of his punctuality does not keep to his time, one is always in pain about him.
1774 G. Colman Man of Business i. 5 Regularity and punctuality are the life of business.
a1816 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal (rev. ed.) iv. iii, in Wks. (1821) II. 101 Punctuality is a species of constancy, a very unfashionable quality in a lady.
1849–50 W. Irving Mahomet (1853) viii. 29 The troops..summoned..arrived at the appointed time with a punctuality recorded by the Arabian chroniclers as miraculous.
1862 Internat. Exhib.: Illustr. Catal. Industr. Dept. II. xv. §3220 Improved Watchman's Clock..for indicating punctuality and registering the neglect of it.
1924 M. Baring C ii. 11 The trains..reached a greater pitch of perfection in punctuality every day.
1951 C. Beaton Diary July in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xvii. 234 It seems that a disregard for on-the-dot punctuality is something our present Queen may have inherited from Queen Alexandra.
2000 K. Reid Tackling Truancy in Schools iv. 51 Home circumstances exert an important influence over pupils' attendance and punctuality.
ΚΠ
1825 C. Lamb in London Mag. Jan. 98 He must be a thorough master of vernacular orthography, with an insight into the accentualities and punctualities of modern Saxon, or English.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] > character or quality of
punctuality1881
betweenness1892
1881 G. S. Hall Aspects German Culture 230 The very possibility of unspaciality or punctuality must be inferred as negative instances from indeterminate extension and movement.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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