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)

1. (grammar) Of or pertaining to an unextended point of time:
   1. (of an action) Occurring at a definite and particular point in time.
   2. (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

• (antonym(s) of “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)

1. (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.

Synonyms

• (grammar: verb denoting a punctiliar action): punctual

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “grammar: verb denoting a punctiliar action”): durative