punctual
UK: ˈpʌŋktʃuəl | US: ˈpʌŋktʃuəl
adj. arriving or occurring at the scheduled time; prompt
adj. relating to or expressed by a grammatical point (e.g., punctuation)
punctual = punct<point> + ual<adjective suffix>
- punct: From Latin punctum ("point"), referring to a precise moment or dot.
- ual: A suffix forming adjectives, derived from Latin -alis, indicating relation or pertaining to.
Etymology Origin:
The word punctual traces back to the Latin punctum ("point"), reflecting the idea of precision in time (like a pinpoint). Originally used in the 14th century to describe grammatical "points" (punctuation), it later evolved to emphasize timeliness—being "on the dot" like a marked point in time. The shift from spatial precision (points) to temporal precision (promptness) illustrates how abstract concepts often borrow from concrete imagery.
She is always punctual for meetings, arriving exactly at 9:00 AM.
The train was remarkably punctual today, departing right on schedule.
His punctual response to the email impressed his supervisor.
In some cultures, being punctual is a sign of respect.
The professor emphasized the importance of punctual submission of assignments.