punctiliar
English
Etymology
Formed as punctili(o) + -ar, initially as an alternative translation (instead of punctual) for the German punktuell.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˌpʌŋkˈtɪlɪə/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˌpəŋkˈtɪliɚ/
Adjective
punctiliar (comparative more punctiliar, superlative most punctiliar)
- (grammar) Of or pertaining to an unextended point of time:
- (of an action) Occurring at a definite and particular point in time.
- (of verbal aspect or tense) Relating to a punctiliar action or event.
Synonyms
- (grammar: of or pertaining to an unextended point of time [+ subsenses]): punctual
Antonyms
- (grammar: of or pertaining to an unextended point of time [+ subsenses]): durative
References
- OED (2nd ed., 1989), “punctiliar, a.”
- OED (3rd ed., September 2007), “punctiliar, adj.”
Noun
punctiliar (plural punctiliars)
- (grammar) A verb denoting a punctiliar action or activity.
- 1943, Richard C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel 1–14, Augsburg Fortress, published 2008, →ISBN, page 289:
- First two duratives to express our practice of judging and measuring, then two punctiliars (aorists) to state God’s reciprocations.
- 1996, University of Maryland Working Papers in Linguistics: UMD WPL IV–VI, page 122:
- Many researchers observe similar generalizations: that children seem unwilling to mark activity verbs like walk or unbounded punctiliars like jump with an -ed ending, even though this is a tense marker in the adult language that applies to all types of events.
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Synonyms
- (grammar: verb denoting a punctiliar action): punctual
Antonyms
- (grammar: verb denoting a punctiliar action): durative