| 释义 |
pointn.1 Origin: A borrowing from French. Probably also partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: French point , poent , poinct ; French pointe , poincte ; point v.1 Etymology: In branch I. < Anglo-Norman point, poinct, pont, poent, pount, punt, puint and Old French poent, pont, Middle French poinct, Old French, Middle French, French point prick, action of pricking (11th cent. in Rashi), precise moment when something takes place (12th cent.), each of the marks on a die (1160–74), element which one isolates in order to deal with it separately (1174), determined and fixed place (1176–81), stitch (c1225), that which is conceived as having position but no extent, magnitude, dimension, or direction (c1265), position, situation (13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), article, provision, clause (13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), detail (13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), part of a work or speech (1310–40), type of embroidery (1352; compare petit point n.), state, condition (14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), item, matter (14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), smallest area which can be perceived (1486), mark of punctuation (1550), unit of value of each of the cards in a game of cards (1585), thread lace made with a needle (1633), dot above the letter forms i and j (1636), unit of marks or of evaluation of good or bad conduct in a school (1690), measure of length (1691), unit in typography (1764), in Anglo-Norman also tip, pointed extremity of an object (14th cent.) < classical Latin punctum small hole made by pricking, prick, minute mark like a prick, dot, point in writing, point in space, geometrical point, especially the centre of a circle, point of time, moment, instant, small measure, short section of a discourse, in post-classical Latin (also as punctus ) also wound made by stabbing (7th or 8th cent.), quarter or fifth of an hour (from 8th cent. in British sources; from 9th cent. in continental sources), (in astronomy) division of the zodiac equivalent to three degrees or to a twelfth of a degree (8th cent. in a British source), division of the zodiac equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree (1120 in a British source), article, item, detail (12th cent.; frequently from c1213 in British sources), state, condition (12th cent.), place, position (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), sharp end of a weapon or tool (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), musical note (frequently from 13th cent. in British and continental sources), tag, lace (frequently 1241–1530 in British sources), square on a chessboard (c1280 in a British source), division on a backgammon board (14th cent. in a British source), passage of arms (in a tournament) (1409, 1442 in British sources), use as noun of neuter of past participle of pungere punge v. In branch II., and partly also in branch III., < Anglo-Norman pointe, punte, puinte and Middle French poincte, Old French, Middle French, French pointe pointed extremity of an object, tip (c1140), charge, attack (1155), sharp sorrow (1225–30), tapering piece of land (1306), extremity (of any shape) of an object (1452), front line of an army (c1525), tool the extremity of which is used for making holes (1538), part of the flank of an army (1554), small amount of a seasoning (1570), witticism (1580), flight of a bird rising towards the sky (16th or early 17th cent.), wounding remark (1604), long nail without a head (1680), in Anglo-Norman also prick (13th cent. or earlier), item, matter (14th cent. or earlier) < post-classical Latin puncta wound made by stabbing (4th cent.), point of a shoe (1200), piece of land (1224), promontory (a1354), ornamental pin (1462), use as noun of feminine of past participle of pungere . In Middle English, as a result of the loss or generalized use of final -e , point and pointe merged, combining under the same forms two originally distinct groups of senses (see branches I. and II.); (in Anglo-Norman there was apparently also some confusion of senses which etymologically would be expected to belong solely to one of the two word forms: see above). Numerous transferred and figurative senses arose related to each group of senses, and in many cases where there is no corresponding French point or pointe the development can be very difficult to determine with any certainty. In branch III. probably also partly < point v.1With French point compare Old Occitan ponch , punh , punt (all c1200), ponh (first half of 13th cent.; Occitan ponch , punt ), Catalan punt (late 13th cent.), Spanish punto (1196), Italian punto (late 12th or 13th cent.), Portuguese ponto (13th cent.). With French pointe compare Old Occitan ponta (mid 12th cent.), puncha (a1219), poncha (c1250; Occitan poncha , punta ), Catalan punta (late 13th cent.), Spanish punta (c1200), Italian punta (a1292), Portuguese ponta (13th cent.). For the origin and early development of the pronunciation represented by the spellingspint , pynt , etc. (arising originally from a Middle English variant with a ui diphthong, compare the spelling puynt ) see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §252, §255. Spellings in -c- in both English and French ultimately show the influence of Latin punctum and puncta . The vowel in some of the β forms could also be the result of the influence of the Latin forms; compare punct n. (some of the β forms could alternatively be interpreted as showing variants of this word). With sense 2a compare Anglo-Norman en point , en bon point , Old French, Middle French, French en bon point (1188). In no point at sense 6a after Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French ne point (12th cent.). In sense 20a after similar spec. use of classical Latin aciēs acies n. With sense 30 compare Italian di terzo acuto , di quarto acuto (see quot. 1703 at sense 30). For foreign-language models and parallels for phrases and compounds see etymological notes below. I. Senses relating to a small, discrete unit, location, measure, etc. (corresponding broadly to French point: see the etymology). * Something having position in space, time, succession, degree, order, etc. 1. A location in time; a moment, juncture, or stage. the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [noun] > critical point or crisis the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [noun] > juncture or critical point ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 77 He eft secheð his point forto breoke forewart. c1300 Pilate (Harl.) 17 in F. J. Furnivall (1862) 111 (MED) Pilatus awaitede his poynt..He stal adai stilleliche and slouȝ þat child wiþ gyle. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) iii. 2851 (MED) Hector hath Achille Assailled..And so narowe brouȝt hym to þe point Of hiȝe meschef. a1450 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Caius 336/725) (1970) 18 (MED) It nediþ..Whanne forsoþe he comeþ to þe poynt for to deeme, boþe to examyne ful longe tyme & truly to biholde. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10624 (MED) Some man hastily is ynome For þat he to þe pointe is come; Some peine longe and kunnen not be quit, For her time come not ȝit. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) liii. 178 When it cometh to the poynt ther as strokes shold be gyuen. 1612 Bp. J. Hall I. O.T. iv. 327 But now when it comes to the point, Who am I? 1722 D. Defoe 68 Tho' my Comrade would have brought me to a Bargain with her Brother; yet when it came to the Point, it was it seems for a Mistress, not a Wife. 1813 J. Austen II. iv. 42 Her father..who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going, that he told her to write to him. View more context for this quotation 1876 ‘G. Eliot’ IV. viii. lxiv. 272 When it came to the point, Mr. Haynes declared off, and there has been no one to take it since. 1915 W. S. Maugham cx. 583 He supposed he could not have done it when it came to the point. 1987 R. Hall (1990) ii. xlv. 250 For all that gorgeous plumage, they were no more civilized than carrion crows when it came to the point. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun] > a limit, end, or term the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb] c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 8458 (MED) Hir eiȝen turned, hir voice wiþsat, At point of dede was hir stat. 1340 (1866) 73 (MED) Hi byeþ briȝte and clene ase hi weren ate poynt and ate time huanne hi yeden out of þe welle of cristninge. c1390 (?c1350) (1871) l. 215 (MED) Bote ȝif I turne him bi þis poynt ar he henne passe, beos he neuermore I-tornd. c1400 (?c1380) l. 68 (MED) In þat cete my saȝes soghe alle aboute, Þat, in þat place, at þe poynt, I put in þi hert. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) (1859) ii. xlii. 47 In this poynt I herde..a lusty melodye of wonder swete songe. c1540 (?a1400) 12464 Þe fairest of þe yere Was past to the point of the pale wintur. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iv. 151 in tr. Procopius The point of opportunity being past, the greatest endeavours afterward faile. 1680 R. L'Estrange tr. Erasmus xviii. 234 To cut off his Head if he had not done it in point. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish War i. iii, in tr. Josephus 697 Four hours..are over already: which point of time renders the prediction impossible. 1788 A. Hamilton in 4 Jan. But would it be wise..to stop at this point? 1834 A. Symington 29 But authority may be abused;..and abuse may reach a point when resistance becomes a duty. 1840 J. H. Newman x. 172 There is..no assignable point at which the belief was introduced. 1891 W. Morris iii. 17 At that point I suddenly remembered Dick's date, and stopped short rather confused. 1898 E. N. Westcott (1974) 223 I'm dum'd..if it hain't got putty near to the p'int when if I want to git anythin' out o' the common run out o' Polly, I'll have to ask John to fix it fer me. 1938 C. Mackenzie xx. 418 At this point the dapper figure of Mr Anthony Eden crosses upstage. 1974 E. Russell in S. Terkel vi. 318 You get to a point where you depend on it [sc. an electronic tuning device] like a crutch. 1997 Aug. 54/2 I said ‘Do you want to go to bed then?,’ at which point she replied ‘Yes, so I think you'd better go.’ the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > a stage in a process or development c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in f. 16 (MED) Þe nayl is meneli hard..for þis cause, þat if he were at þe vtmeste poynt hard, he myȝte not longe laste fro brutilte of his hardnes. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Bv [This] declareth some poynt of our iourney. 1569 R. Grafton II. 678 The extreme poynt of decay of his house and estate. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus 206 Her beauty and comely grace..amounted unto a high point. 1683 M. Payne tr. Plutarch Life Camillus in J. Dryden et al. tr. Plutarch I. 475 They who had been shut up in the Capitol..were reduced almost to the point of perishing with hunger. 1749 J. Cleland II. 50 No matter for his after-opinion of my forwardness, so it might bring him to the point of answering my pressing demands of present ease. 1792 G. Washington Let. in (1891) XII. 177 Differences in political opinions are as unavoidable, as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary. 1886 J. Ruskin I. x. 324 I was brought to the point of trying to learn to sing. 1891 92 93/2 The shares reached their highest point on the 13th June 1890, when they might have been sold for £600. 1923 E. A. Powell iii. 80 The helmet..in order to afford real security, must be heavy to the point of discomfort. 1970 13 Apr. 13/3 If the BSC or the bigger firms in the private sector felt the draught.., the lesser firms could suffer badly—to the point of extinction. 2002 Winter 7/1 A low point was in Ethiopia, when I travelled for a month with typhoid then guardia. 2. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > [noun] > good or bad condition or order ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 43 Hwen þu bi haldest þe mon þu art In eue Point & lokest on þen appel. a1250 (?a1200) (Nero) (1952) 78 Ȝf eni ancre is þet ne vele[ð] none uondunges, swuð drede hire i ðet point. c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 914 in C. Horstmann (1887) 132 (MED) Sire, þov art in feble point. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 8868 Engelond & normandie in god point he broȝte. c1387–95 G. Chaucer 200 A lord ful fat and in good poynt. c1450 (c1350) (Bodl.) (1929) 315 To godus pay is our peple in bettur point founde. 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1893) cxv. 173 The barons toke counseyl..how they myght conteyne them in this greuous poynt in whiche they were. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) xcv. 307 She demaundyd of hym yf he were hole and in good poynt. 1563 in J. H. Burton (1878) 1st Ser. I. 246 The said kirk is at sik ane point that throw decaying thairof,..the wallis in sindrie partis ar revin. 1624 G. Wyatt Let. in (1977) 34 124 The Captaines..are to present their men to have then aparances of their persons furniturs and Armes faiere alowable neate and in good point. 1633 T. Stafford iii. xiii. 342 You shall see us..in better point then wee were. a1706 J. Evelyn (1939) 90 Daniel & his Associats..appear'd mor-beautifull, and in better poynt, than all the rest. 1733 A. Pope i. 277 Know thy own Point..this due degree Of blindness, weakness, Heav'n bestows on thee. 1896 at Robert II Robert, perhaps really averse to war,..retired to the highlands, ‘because he was not,’ says Froissart, ‘in good point to ride in warfare.’ 1972 G. Heyer 11 There is nothing so irritating to the nerves as being obliged to attend to fireside chatter..when one is not feeling in good point. the world > relative properties > order > [noun] > orderly condition or arrangement a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) 1303 (MED) Fulofte my silence I breke, and is the ferste point wherof that I am out of point [v.r. ioint]. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 2048 (MED) Gryngolet..hade ben soiourned sauerly & in a siker wyse; Hym lyst prik for poynt, þat proude hors þenne. 1469 in (1806) 15 170 That the money..be newe molton and reforged..till it be putte to poynt. c1475 tr. A. Chartier (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1974) 181 (MED) Many diuers, for to put thaimself in poynte, arayed well for to serue, haue sold and morgaged thair landes. 1583 in D. Masson (1880) 1st Ser. III. 611 To have thair maters callit and put to poynt in ordour. 1584 in D. Masson (1880) 1st Ser. III. 687 Quhill the samin be decydit or utherwise put to point. 3. A location in space. the world > space > relative position > central condition or position > [noun] > middle or centre c1330 (Auch.) (1933) 729 (MED) Þe leuedi stod in pointt tournis, For to bihelde þe burdis. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 40v Þe blake of þe yȝe is I-clepid þe myddel yȝe And also þe poynt of þe yȝe. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) i. 2231 (MED) Amyddes of þis ilke tweyne, Of Loue and Schame even vp-on þe point, Stood Medea. 1577 R. Willes & R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria f. 39 The pole starre..is not the very poynt of the pole Artyke, vppon the whiche the axes or extremities of heauens are turned about. 1614 W. B. tr. (ed. 2) iii. iv. 227 Our Ecclesiasticall writers, haue thought Iudæa to be the middle of the Earth, and Ierusalem, the very poynt. the world > space > place > [noun] > of which the position alone is considered c1392 18 (MED) The middel poynt of this plate..wole I calle centre aryn. a1425 (Cambr.) (1968) 31 (MED) Whanne þou komest to þe heiȝest poynt, þere mayst þou not longe sitte. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 5024 (MED) Þei shullen worche al her maistrie And in certeine oures and metis And certein pointis of planetis. 1569 R. Grafton II. 698 King Edward..was not a little troubled..and driuen to seeke the furthest poynt of his witte. 1610 in D. Masson (1889) 1st Ser. IX. 588 Howsoevir we are divydit by extent of territorie, yitt our counsellis and labouris..shall alwayes conspyre and meete in one poynt. 1669 S. Sturmy iv. xi. 178 If you keep a true Account of the Ship's way.., you may at any time have the true Point where the Ship is. 1723 J. Clarke tr. I. i. xxxiii. 263 All the Rays which come from any Point of the Object, and fall upon the whole Superficies of the Glass do..enter into the Pupil. 1754 (Royal Soc.) 48 83 That the gravity at any point of the earth is inversedly as the distance from the center. 1800 tr. C. G. Salzmann ii. iii. 228 The course of the ancients was called the Stadium... The starting point was called αρεσις. 1855 W. Sargent 218 Forming a gentle rapid or ripple, and easily fordable at almost any point. 1867 in C. A. Wheeler 214 Place a practical man with one of M'Cabe's stop-watches at the finishing point. 1901 4 Jan. 38/1 From this point the party worked down the sandwash of Rio San Ignacio..to the..Gulf of California. 1950 30 June 21 The West Coast of Africa, the contact point for the slave trade with colonial America. 1991 M. E. Wertsch i. 14 The boy stares unblinking at a point on the ceiling. 2002 4 Jan. 8/8 Parents drop their children off at a designated meeting point and they are then walked to school together by a supervisory adult. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > chessboard > square society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > chessboard > square > specific squares c1450 ( G. Chaucer 660 Fortune seyde ‘Chek her’, And ‘Mat’, in myd poynt of the chekker. c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate (1901) 6044 The vnkouth craft of the taller [read tabler] And the poyntes of the cheker. 1474 W. Caxton tr. (1883) iv. i. 158 The bordeur aboute his hyher than the squarenes of the poyntes. c1475 Chess Probl. in f. 10 This is a fair Jupertie to mate a man in on of the iiij poyntes for it cumyth offt in play. a1500 (?a1450) (Harl. 7333) (1879) 71 The chekir or þe chesse hath viij. poyntes in eche partie. society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > escutcheon or shield > [noun] > one of nine fixed positions society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > escutcheon or shield > [noun] > one of nine fixed positions > base point c1460 Bk. Arms in (1903) Apr. 184 Beryth a poynt of sabyll, a chefe of goules, [etc.]. 1494 Loutfut MS f. 13v, in at Point And wil ȝhe wit quhat is of pointis & of cartelle quhen the pointis ar of a colour thai ar poyntis..and quhen thair is colour on four pointis..it is cartelle. 1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in (1998) I. 214 A stark gallowis, a wedy and a pyn, The hede poynt of thyne elderis armes ar. 1562 G. Legh 124 He beareth a poynte playne, Geules, in a fielde, Or. This is for hym yt telleth lyes, to hys soueraigne. c1600 (?c1395) (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) 562 Þe penounes & þe pomels & poyntes of scheldes Wiþ-drawen his deuocion. 1658 E. Phillips Points, in Heraldry are certain places in an Escutcheon diversly named according to their several positions. 1725 J. Coats (rev. ed.) (at cited word) There are nine principal Points in any Escutcheon... A...the Dexter Chief. B. the..Middle Chief. C. the Sinister Chief. D. the Honour Point. E. the Fesse Point, call'd also the Center. F. the Nombril Point, that is, the Navel Point. G. the Dexter Base. H. the Sinister Base. I. the precise Middle Base. 1777 H. Clark & T. Wormull (ed. 3) 9 The line is formed by proceeding from the extremity of the base, and ascending to the side of the escutcheon, which it meets about the fesse point. 1847 H. Gough 250 Point, or Plain point, a small part of the base of the shield cut off by a horizontal line and separately tinted. 1865 VII. 626 In order to facilitate the description of a coat-of-arms, it is the practice to suppose the shield to be divided into nine points. 1969 J. Franklyn & J. Tanner 276/1 A plain point, being a horizontal section of the field, in base point, a little less than a third of the shield's width in its depth, tinctured tenné.., defaced the shield of one who misled a superior. 1988 T. Woodcock & J. M. Robinson 68 The third is a plain point sanguine for a person who lies to his Sovereign or Commander-in-Chief. the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > [noun] > type of run 1789 J. Byng Diary 29 May in (1938) IV. 96 For it is as convenient in travelling to know the Stops of the Road, as in Hunting, the Covers, and the right Points. 1875 G. J. Whyte-Melville (1879) xi. 185 In Leicestershire especially, foxes..will make their point with a stiff breeze blowing in their teeth. 1896 25 Nov. 9/1 The Belvoir hounds made an eight mile point in a little over 45 minutes. 1939 11 Feb. p. xxxii/1 After running in all for an hour and forty minutes and making a six and a half miles point. 1977 13 Jan. 52/1 Our fox crossed the valley and made his point to Moorhill. 2001 12 Mar. 659 My maternal grandfather was 84 when he died..having ridden a five-mile point to hounds barely six weeks before. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > [noun] > mark on stone to guide work 1835 6 July 18 My wits were put to work for some correct mechanical method by which I might transfer the bust safely into marble. I knew nothing of the Italian mode of taking points. 1841 XXI. 142/1 This process is repeated till the numerous points at fixed depths, corresponding throughout with the surface of the model, are attained, and a rough copy of the sculptor's original work is thus mechanically made. 1911 A. Toft 254 A good pointer will keep all his ‘points’ a little ‘full’, by never allowing the needle to go quite home. 1974 VIII. 68/1 The final points on the stone are usually left about 1/ 32 inch (about one millimetre) higher than those on the model to enable the sculptor to put the finishing touches on the stone. 2005 A. Williams 345 The points are drilled to depth..and then the encircled material is removed until the correct proportion is achieved. the world > space > place > [noun] > places lying in specific direction society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > place where train stops society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > public passenger transport > [noun] > travel by bus > place where bus makes regular halt 1839 4 Jan. 3/2 By obtaining possession of the points west of Tilbury the Patriots can run a line from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. 1859 L. D. Tierney 25 Persons starting from points east of Chicago, by obtaining a railroad guide, can easily estimate the distance and cost of travel for themselves to that point. 1895 Spring & Summer 589/1 Freight paid by us to all points east of the west line of Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Louisiana. To points farther west we apply $1 00 on the payment of freight. 1907 20 July 11/2 The only way to effect this is to revise the ‘points’, so as to make the journeys shorter, while maintaining useful and popular penny lengths. 1969 D. Barron i. 11 I've been in Pakistan and points East for six weeks. 1992 1 Dec. 139 While thousands of other Quebecers..packed their bags and headed..to Ontario and points west, Singh determined to stay and fight for his country. society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > place where policeman is stationed the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > appointed to or usually occupied by a person or thing > assigned to a person on duty or in games > of a policeman the world > space > place > [noun] > place of meeting or assembly 1888 11 Oct. 2/1 I came..in search of a constable: the one on ‘point’ at Holborn Town Hall could not come. 1898 J. D. Brayshaw 201 ‘Here, John,’ he shouts to the potman, ‘fetch the man from the point’... In a few minutes up comes the potman with a sergeant an' p'liceman. 1963 N. Marsh (1964) vii. 191 Shall I return to my point, sir? 1967 ‘S. Woods’ ii. 36 I made my point with t'sergeant... Corner of Badger's Way, that was. 1972 J. Rossiter ix. 128 They're waiting until half-past ten. That's when the Guardia make their point near the Bar El Toro Blanco and wait for thirty minutes. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical appliances or devices > [noun] > socket 1904 H. Walter viii. 82 The cost per point depends..on the materials used for protecting the wires. 1925 J. C. Connan ix. 167 If the area in square feet to be illuminated is divided by the total number of points (including ceiling roses, wall brackets, and wall plugs), the average area illuminated per point is obtained. 1967 21 Dec. 831/2 There is no electric point in her room, so she uses the ceiling light festooned with wires to plug in her iron. 1972 M. Babson ix. 107 Helena Keswick plugged an electric kettle into a point underneath the table. 2004 (Nexis) 27 June Never have temporary or naked points or wiring. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > ice hockey > [noun] > playing area > area in front of goal 1953 27 Nov. 24/3 He missed a pass-out from Gord Howe and the puck went to Pronovost on the blue-line point. 1963 Dec. 22/2 Kent Douglas shot the puck from the point. 1978 25 Sept. 53/5 St. Louis got its second goal when Federko deflected Mike Walton's shot from the point with the Blues enjoying a man advantage. 1990 R. Olver ii. ix. 163 Dimitry Kristich grabs the puck from the neutral zone, moves across the blue line and scores from the point. 2002 22 Apr. d7 He wasn't the only wing that put the puck out to the point. 4. Mathematics and Science. the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 329 Þe lyne..bigynneþ at a poynt and endeþ at a poynt. 1551 R. Record i. Defin. A Poynt or a Prycke, is named of Geometricians that small and vnsensible shape, whiche hath in it no partes, that is to say: nother length, breadth, nor depth. 1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Math. Præf. sig. *j A Point, is a thing Mathematicall, indiuisible, which may haue a certayne determined situation. 1660 tr. I. Barrow i. 1 A Point is that which hath no part... The ends, or limits, of a line are points. 1704 J. Harris I. (at cited word) If a Point be supposed to be moved any way, it will by its Motion describe a Line. 1828 (ed. 20) 11 To draw a Circle through any Three given Points not situated in a right Line. 1866 W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox (new ed.) II. 946/1 It is sometimes convenient to consider a point as an evanescent circle or sphere. 1939 ‘F. O'Brien’ 209 I am like a point in Euclid, explained the Good Fairy, position but no magnitude, you know. 1966 L. May & R. Moss xi. 64/2 Space is said to be the set of all points. 1992 G. Ellis vi. 107 A subspace of dimension 1 is called a point, and a subspace of dimension 2 is called a line. c1475 tr. (Tripolitanus abbrev.) (1977) 346 (MED) Somyr begynneth whan the sun entreth in the first pointe of the signe of the Crabbe. 1559 W. Cuningham ii. 53 Next he appered in th' Equinoctiall pointes, as it is the tenth daye of March, and the .14. of Septemb. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. xviii. xxv. 587 The four cardinal points, to wit, of the two Tropicks or Sunsteads, and the double Æquinox. 1656 tr. T. Hobbes iv. xxvi. 322 s & r are the Equinoctial points. 1701 Acct. Life in T. Stanley (ed. 3) sig. b Stanley,..thinks his Gnomon did only note the Tropick and Equinoctial Points. 1715 tr. D. Gregory I. ii. § 29. 305 To determine the places of the Stars in respect of the Equinoctial and Solstitial points. 1865 A. S. Herschel in 33 Two radiant-points of shooting stars..presented themselves in Auriga and in Cetus. 1910 F. W. Dyson vii. 158 The existence of a radiant point shows that all the meteors are moving in parallel directions. 1991 C. A. Ronan 146/1 There are the Perseids with their radiant point in Perseus, the Leonids with a radiant in Leo, and so on. 2000 G. L'E. Turner ii. 152 This is two stereographic projections from the equinoctial points onto the North–South plane known as the solstitial colure. ** An individual item. 5. the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > constituent part or component > of an immaterial whole c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 34 Þis point þis article of wel to beo bitunde ich wulle beo best ihalden. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 1261 (MED) Sir tramtris [sic] hir gan lere..What alle pointes were. 1340 (1866) 33 Þer byeþ zix poyns kueade, huerby sleuþe brengeþ man to his ende. c1400 (Rawl. B. 171) 157 He sent worde..þat þai shulde done out and put awey þat o pynt of restitucion. a1450 (1885) 181 (MED) If þou be goddis sone..Shew som poynte here..to proue þi myght. 1472–5 VI. 156/2 No persone other then..entitled by poynt of Chartour. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 85 (MED) The fourth poynte of dispeyred hope..may be callid frustratyve. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 161 It is ane pount of ignorance To lufe in sic distemperance. 1526 James ii. 10 Whosoeuer shall kepe the whole lawe, and yet fayle in one poynt, he is gyltie in all. 1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen 55 The ix artikil. I trou that thair is ane halie chrissine kirk and ane communione of sanctis. Thir ii pwintis ar baith bot ane thing. 1641 J. Jackson i. 7 I have prefaced and scholied sufficiently unto the Text, I come now to seek out first the parts, and then the points of it. 1663 B. Gerbier 49 The censure of the Surveyor, on the point of all the materialls which are brought in. 1701 J. Norris I. ii. 74 This is the point upon which the whole reasoning turns. 1784 J. Potter II. 23 We shall never agree on these points, so we'll drop them. 1833 H. Martineau (new ed.) v. 55 If they had known what point was in dispute. 1867 G. MacDonald I. v. 92 Is it a point of conscience with you? 1897 J. T. Tomlinson vii. 211 We shall find..that..he [sc. Cosin] never adopted any one of the ‘six points’ of modern Ritualism. 1954 V. Dengel vi. 141 There are four points to proper, daily skin care. 1992 26 Oct. 4/3 Bush was handed a coherent and comprehensive statement of domestic policy. He has yet to master its main points. 1843 T. Carlyle i. iv. 33 By no Reform Bill, Ballot-box, Five-point Charter..can you perform this alchymy. 1912 8 Jan. 6/2 Its endeavours will be wholly..directed toward enforcing the six-point programme of the British Medical Association. 1961 25 Oct. i. 16/3 If the parties failed to sign an eight point protocol agreeing on Gen. Gursel as president. 2002 (Nexis) 6 Oct. c. 1 Faith-based policies, which include having its instructors sign a 12-point statement of faith when they are hired. *** A minute particle; a smallest unit of measurement. 6. A small part, division, or portion of a whole. the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount > the smallest amount > a jot the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit > small piece > very small piece the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [phrase] > nothing, no one, not any > not at all c1300 (Laud Misc. 108) (1889) 55 (MED) O poynt of ore pine to bate, In þe world ne is no leche. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 119v One poynt of liȝt or of bischinynge were suffisaunt of hit silf to byschine al þe woorlde. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich lv. 182 (MED) Neuere Man On hym Cowde Aspye that Evere he hadde poynt of Meselrye. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 8107 (MED) He may heuene and erthe fordo Oonly wiþ his worde also, And þis is but a pointe of his mighte. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan (Cambr.) (1977) 102 (MED) Charles..wolde lacke no poynte to sett his premisses in faire and due ordre. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 137 Diogenes esteemed the fruite to bee no poyncte the more polluted. 1610 iii. 266 The Players now are growne so proud, Ten pound a play, or no point Comedy. the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > moment or instant a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1969) Isa. liv. 7 At a poynt in a litil [L. Ad punctum in modico] I forsooc þee. R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle 106 (MED) In a poynt we lyfe, ȝa les þen a poynt. c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 8 (MED) Eche soule is made in þe body in þe same poynt and pricke of tyme in whiche it is couplid and joinyd to þe body. a1500 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 374 (MED) Þese peplys a lytyle whyle floryschydden in her lustys, and in a poynte þei fellen doune to helle. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1546) sig. Kk.jv Theyr felicitie hath been but a shorte poynt. 1650 T. Hobbes in W. Davenant 131 She [sc. Fancy] seemeth to fly from one Indies to the other, and from Heaven to Earth, and to penetrate into the hardest matter..and all this in a point of time. 1694 W. Salmon tr. Y. van Diemerbroeck (new ed.) i. 420/2 Able to perceive all those things which are done in the extream parts in the least space of a moment, even in the very point of time they are acted. 1892 Apr. 424 In an instant, in a point of time, Death, the Egyptian, melts and drinks the pearl. the world > time > period > hour > [noun] > specific part of an hour OE On Length of Year (Titus) in H. Henel (1934) 65 On anre æfenneahtlicre tide beoð feower punctas, ten minuta, fiftene partes, feowortig momenta, be sumra manna tale.] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 124 An hour [contains] foure poyntis [a1450 Bodl. punctes], & a point ten momentis. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 6210 (MED) And euery our forto twynne, Sixti pointes beþ þerynne. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 7388 (MED) Euery hour haþ no more But a þousand pointes and foure score. c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in f. 48v (MED) Ech planet in þe nyȝt and in þe day regneþ iij houris and a poynt, so þat Þese vij poyntis maken an hour. 1614 268 As many moments therefore, and points of time as this my life hath had, now hath, or may haue hereafter, so many parts are there of this benefite. 1806 J. Lingard II. x. 182 Twenty-four hours, each of which admits of four different sub-divisions, into four points [etc.]. the world > the universe > sun > [noun] > disc, face > digit the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > moon > [noun] > digit ?c1400 in J. O. Halliwell (1839) 59 (MED) Þe 12 departynges..are called poyntes; þan es a poynte þe twelft parte of any thyng, namely of ouþer side of þe quardrat in þe quadrant. a1450 ( G. Chaucer i. §12. 5 The skale..that serveth by his 12 pointes..of ful many a subtil conclusioun. 1550 W. Lynne tr. J. Funke Actes & Hist. Worlde 1532–50 in tr. J. Carion 252 b The third Eclipse was of the Moone..the Moone was darkened .xvii. pointes and .xxv. minutes. 1594 T. Blundeville iii. i. xv. f. 148v The Astronomers doe diuide the Diameter aswell of the Sunne, as of the Moone into 12. and some into 24. parts, which they call points. society > law > legal possession > held in possession [phrase] > possession is nine or eleven points of the law the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > ten > [noun] > a tenth the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > eleven to ninety-nine > [noun] > twelve > a twelfth 1616 T. Draxe 163 Possession is nine points in the Law. 1639 T. Fuller v. xxix. 281 At this day the Turk hath eleven points of the law in Jerusalem, I mean possession. 1697–8 I. Watts (1789) 149 Prejudice and education had eleven points of the law, and it was impossible for arguments to dispossess them. 1730 C. Coffey ii. iv. 32 For you know Possession is eleven Points of the Law; so that Delays are hazardous. 1792 J. Belknap xiii. 162 It was a doubt in law whether real estate could be held by such tenure, but Bull had possession, and that you know is eleven points of the law. 1863 C. Reade xliii Possession is ninety-nine points of Lunacy law. 1880 E. Lynn Linton ix ‘You have it in your possession still.’ ‘My nine points? Rather shaky ones, I fear.’ 1957 47 659 Possession would seem to be an absolute prerequisite to (if not nine points of) the ability to impart. 1991 B. Howell (BNC) 196 ‘Just keep a tight hold on these documents,’ Otley advised her. ‘Possession is nine points of the law.’ 7. Music. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > melody or succession of sounds > [noun] > snatch of melody society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > signal on instrument society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > music on specific instrument > [noun] > wind music > trumpet-call c1400 (?c1380) 891 Of þat songe myȝt synge a poynt. c1426 J. Audelay (1931) 17 (MED) Boþ in cloyster and in quere when þat þai syng and rede..þat pray And kepun her pausus and her poyntis, ellus myȝt þai gete no mede. 1578 Gosson in T. N. tr. (ad fin.) When..threatnying trumpet sounde the poyntes of warre. ?1594 M. Drayton sig. I.3 The Trumpets shril their warlike poynts be singing. 1602 J. Marston iv. sig. G2v Make me a straine;..Breath me a point that may inforce me weepe. 1692 C. Gildon I. vii. 51 The Noise John Tabour the Drummer of the Train'd-Bonds made, when he beat a point of War. 1709 R. Steele No. 81. ⁋5 The Trumpet, which had hitherto sounded only a March, or a Point of War. 1760 129 Some Regiments have a Custom when an Officer first joins them; the Drummers welcome him with a Beat called A Point of War. 1814 W. Scott II. xxiii. 356 To perform the beautiful and wild point of war . View more context for this quotation 1867 W. Morris i. 6 His guardian drew The horn from off his neck, and thereon blew A point of hunting known to two or three. 1871 J. Ruskin (1896) I. 152 Bid him put ghostly trump to lip and breathe a point of war. society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > piece in specific form > [noun] > fugue > subject > entry of 1597 T. Morley 76 There can bee no point or Fuge taken without a rest. a1646 J. Gregory (1649) 48 The Contrapunctum figuratum, consisting of Feuges, or mainteining of Points. 1704 J. Harris I Fugue, in Musick, is some Point consisting of 4, 5, 6, or any other Number of Notes begun by some one single Part, and then seconded by a Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Part. 1776 J. Hawkins V. 177 A point, or subject of a fugue, which the performer was to conduct at his pleasure. 1872 9 May 8/3 A point of ‘imitation’ occurs at the passage, ‘When Thou took'st upon Thee to deliver man’. 1881 in Grove III. 7 Points, a term applied..to the opening notes of the Subject of a Fugue, or other important Motivo, to which it is necessary that the attention of the Performer should be particularly directed. 1914 H. Coward 243 In these phrases there are in each part two cases of forte-piano, that is, at the beginning and the first top note of the point of imitation. 1972 K. R. Long iii. 45 The musical phrase, technically known as a ‘point’, was announced first by one voice-part. 1999 27 486/1 It appears as a point of imitation, and later as a fugal subject. 8. A unit of counting, credit, or value. society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > [noun] > gaining points > score > unit in 1701 A. J. at Riscár os póntos ao jógo To set down, or note the points at play. 1743 E. Hoyle (ed. 4) 94 Points. Ten of them make a Game. 1816 S. W. Singer 261 (note) The five is called Towser. The six, Tumbler, which reckon in hand for their respective number of points. 1873 J. Bennett & ‘Cavendish’ 14 The game (1200 up) was won by Cook by 117 points. 1896 W. Camp 24 If this kick is successfully accomplished, the touch-down is said to have been converted into a goal, and two more points are added to the score. 1935 63/2 A goal scored from the field counts two points, and one scored from a free throw one point. 1955 6 July 4/4 The British Isles Rugby Union tourists beat South West Africa by nine points to nil in their match here to-day. 1990 Feb. 95/2 When the score reaches game point (40) or two chases have been laid, the players change ends and the point is replayed. 2004 (Midwest ed.) 18 Apr. i. 16/1 The object [in bocce] is to roll the ball closest to the white ‘jack ball’. Points are scored based on the number of balls closest to the jack ball. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > piquet > [noun] > score 1719 R. Seymour 75 He who reckons most in this Manner is said to win the Point. 1728 E. Chambers at Picquet The Carte blanche is the first thing that reckons; then the Point. 1823 W. Scott II. v. 121 By an infraction of the laws of the game [sc. piquet],..Lord Etherington called a point without shewing it. 1867 H. G. Bohn et al. (new ed.) 224 Point, the greatest number on the cards of the same suit in hand after having taken in, reckoned by their pips, scores for as many points as cards. 1991 D. Parlett 176 That feature of Piquet now known as ‘the point’, and signifying the greatest number and value of cards in any one suit, was formerly known in French as ‘la roufle’ and in English as ‘the ruff’. society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > unit in assessing competitors the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)] > have position of advantage > gain a position of superiority 1809 M. Edgeworth Ennui iv, in I. xix. 394 Lord Y—'s judgment was a great point in favour of Mr. O'Donoghoe, to be sure. 1867 A. Trollope I. xxi. 179 I cannot accept it as a point in a clergyman's favour, that he should be opposed to his bishop. 1880 R. Grant 106 I got more [bouquets] than she did; thereby (to use a bit of slang) getting points on her for the time being. 1886 R. L. Stevenson 25 All these were points against him. 1919 T. Marples (ed. 2) xv. 73 The following is the Golden Retriever Club's standard of points for Golden Retrievers. 1959 30 Mar. 10/6 Points for quality..are given for..size and shape of the eye muscle in the back [of a pig]. 1997 23 June a. 9/5 Bill Clinton isn't winning points for his demographic status, he is taking hits for it. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > [noun] > odds > unit in odds 1814 43 54 Betting reduced two points. 1843 11 June 7/4 The betting when play was called was only one point in favour of Kent. 1892 27 Oct. 10/1 The result was that she went back a point or two in the betting. 2002 (Nexis) 26 July 86 Rebel Watcher has come in a point to 8-1. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > prices of stocks and shares > recording of prices or dealings > unit or number in quoting variations 1855 14 May 10/5 The prices of goods are likely to go up some points ere the end of autumn. 1890 13 Nov. 2/4 Cotton.—Liverpool... ‘Futures’ advanced 2 points, but the improvement has not been maintained, and prices are now one point below yesterday's closing rates. 1901 M. E. Wilkins 159 The mining stock dropped fast—a point or more a day. 1930 M. Clark 163 Prices in the case of spot transactions are not stated in terms of pence per lb., but as so many ‘points on’ or ‘points off’ the price of cotton.., a ‘point’ being one hundredth of a penny. 1971 5 Apr. 7/2 Bank Rate is now 21/ 2 points higher than at the beginning of 1956, and mortgage rates are also 21/ 2 points higher over the same period. 1980 12 Feb. 19/3 Sterling..continued to maintain a firm position closing 60 points ahead at 2·3045. 2002 18 Nov. 21/2 The Finance Index fell 157.60 points to 5,65.50 and the Industrial Index lost 5.1 points to 1,355.0. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [adverb] > points decision 1898 22 Nov. 3/3 Caspar Leon and Jimmy Barry fought six rounds to a draw tonight. On points Barry had the advantage, but..Referee Hogan had no alternative but to call it a draw. 1904 June 301/1 Aeneas called ‘time’, and gave a decision..‘on points’. 1930 25 Sept. 7/4 Campolo..will probably retire for good..if Sharkey gives him the full count, or if he loses on points. 1968 18 July 90/3 Mrs Vlachou was as icily contemptuous of the colonels' intentions..; Mr Sparrow was eloquent in their defence. On points I should give the victory to Mrs Vlachou. 1992 28 June viii. 1/1 Two weeks ago in the boxing trials, Williams defeated Griffin on points. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > bowls or bowling > [noun] > game or part of game 1902 J. A. Manson in XXVI. 329/1 On Scottish greens the game of Points is occasionally played... Three points are scored if the bowl come to rest within one foot of the jack... It is obvious that the Points game demands an ideally perfect green. society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > marks > point or credit 1903 29 Aug. 3/4 For university credit, each 30 hours' course counts one point, and laboratory work, at the rate of 60 hours, to one point. 1953 5 Feb. 7 Into San Francisco come the wounded, come the soldiers who have accumulated enough rotation ‘points’ to be sent home. 1977 125 550/2 When a household had acquired enough points to reach the top of the housing list, then their own preference as to location and dwelling type would be taken into account. 2005 (Nexis) 21 May 13 A third of all the city's taxi drivers have points on their licences, and of these many are within one offence of also reaching 12 points. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > scores or points 1910 4 Mar. 4/3 Every trick over the book is worth ten points instead of two. 1959 5 Mar. 434/3 A ten-point hand. 1977 10 Dec. 13/4 The text-books advise you to pass, because you have four points only and six points are needed for a positive response. 1994 (Nexis) 14 July 15 I opened One No-trump (12-14 points), and my partner raised to game. the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > an allotted share, portion, or part > [noun] > by government or authority > unit of value and exchange 1939 27 Nov. 2/2 Each article is counted a specified number of ‘points’ ranging from four ‘points’ for silk stockings, to 45 ‘points’ for a tailored suit. 1940 31 Aug. 280/2 Textiles are sharply rationed [in Holland]... On August 12th, the German system of a clothing card of 100 points was introduced. 1944 23 Feb. 2/3 From April 2 imported tinned marmalade will be available on points, and will not be, as hitherto, part of the preserve ration. 1965 N. Freeling ii. xv. 169 England during the reign of Sir Stafford Cripps..with points and coupons and austerity. 2003 (Nexis) 28 Feb. 19 Many items..were ‘On points’, which meant you could choose what to buy, but each time you bought one of these items, points coupons were clipped from your ration book. society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > profit > [noun] > profit to be shared > share of profits 1977 G. V. Higgins x. 123 Sometimes they allowed established lawyers to buy into the [law] firm, selling points, as they are now known, at prices which varied with the times. 1990 J. Eberts & T. Ilott iii. 35 When an actor or director is said to have ‘points’ in a picture, it normally means that he or she is guaranteed a percentage of the producer's share. 2000 J. J. Lee ii. 20 The producer is paid a production fee and typically has a net-profits participation in the film, commonly called ‘points’. 9. The smallest unit in a system of measurement. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > the measure of length > specific 1781 A. Rees (new ed.) III. at Microscope The largest of them [sc. globules] was only two Paris points in diameter. 1815 J. Smith I. 472 The smallest no more than one-half of a Paris point, or the 144th part of an inch in diameter..is said to magnify the diameter of an object 2560 times. the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > study or science of weather > study or science of specific conditions or phenomena > [noun] > study of rainfall > measurement of rainfall > units 1889 20 Apr. 816/2 The following reports have been received:—Brewarrina, 40 points; Bourke, 47 points;..Ivanhoe, 100 points; Mossagiel, 188 points;..Hillston, 288 points. 1909 Sept. 353 Since 1904 we have only had a total of 12 points of snow, sleet and rain, though the average since 1901 is 14. 1914 ‘B. Cable’ 244 You'll think me an awful new-chum, but I've a confession to make. I don't know what a point of rain means. 1937 A. Upfield (1938) 6 If only it hadn't rained thirty points the black tracker would have picked out Loftus's tracks. 1947 22 686 With only 10 points of rain, tunnels will be caused in this type of dam. 1959 June 594 An isolated fall of just 10 points of rain in the middle of a dry spell. 1973 E. Palmer & N. Pitman III. xcvii. 2007 In the northern Transvaal it [sc. this rhigozum] may sometimes be seen, flowering after only a few points of rain, in an otherwise..drought-stricken countryside. 1987 5 Mar. 37/3 The 85 points of rain which fell solidly on Saturday put paid to any chance the society had to create a record. 2002 (Nexis) 28 Dec. (Sport section) 26 Track manager Warren Williams..was conservative about rating the track dead after 40mm (160 points) of rain this week. society > communication > printing > types, blocks, or plates > relating to type > [noun] > height of type > unit of measurement 1890 (at cited word) The American point was adopted by the United States Type-Founders' Association in 1883. 1901 6 Feb. 4/3 The type..must be at least ‘eight point’, and the lines must be separated by at least two points. 1935 W. T. Berry & A. F. Johnson l The extension of the ascenders makes the 12-point size [of Perpetua] look ‘small’ in comparison with the 12 point of Fournier, Baskerville, and the Aldine Bembo. 1984 L. W. Wallis i. 49 Type size range extends from 5 to 256 point. 2001 M. Blake iii. 29 In tiny nine-point typeface it read: typeset and printed by J. Lovell & Co. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [noun] > unit or denomination of weight > unit of weight for precious stones > fractions of carat 1931 E. H. Kraus & E. F. Holden (ed. 2) vii. 99 The weight of a diamond is often expressed in points. Thus, a stone weighing 65 points actually weighs 0·65 carats. 1974 II. 546/3 The metric carat, equal to 0·200 grams, and the point, equal to 0·01 carat, was adopted by the U.S. in 1913 and, subsequently, by most other countries. 1979 3 Nov. 17/7 (advt.) A dazzling 1½ point diamond, handset in a brilliant star-burst of gold ‘vermeil’. 1994 (Nexis) 9 June d3 A carat consists of 100 points. A 3/4-carat diamond weighs 75 points, and so on. **** Something that is the focus of attention, consideration, or purpose. 10. A topic, issue, argument, or objective. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [noun] > matter for discussion c1300 St. Barnabas (Laud) 30 in C. Horstmann (1887) 27 Tel us of ȝwannes þou art and ȝwat is þi name, And fram ȝwannes þou art hidere icome..Seint Barnabe..fondede in eche pointe to answerien heom. c1385 G. Chaucer 2971 Ther was a parlement At Atthenes vpon a certeyn point and caas. a1425 (?a1350) (Galba) (1907) 2650 (MED) Þai wil haue me vnto Rome, Of sertayn poyntes to gif þam dome. c1475 tr. A. Chartier (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1974) 227 (MED) Now goo we to the thrid poynt that we haue to declare. a1530 W. Bonde (1531) iii. f. CCxvi This poynt is put to the confutacyon..of all suche heretykes. 1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Plinius Novocomensis in 243 In this point he shall finde me impersuasible, and not to be exhorted. 1659 H. Thorndike i. xx. 155 It is a point that cannot here be voided. 1694 J. Locke (new ed.) ii. xxvii. 185 For as to this point of being the same self, it matters not whether this present self be made up of the same or other Substances. 1749 H. Fielding IV. xi. v. 127 We were disputing this Point with great Eagerness on both Sides. View more context for this quotation 1796 J. Anstey ii. 36 Then dreams He that some point he's mooting. 1841 G. Borrow II. iii. 119 The following consideration will help to solve this point. 1885 J. B. Patterson ix. 77 Persisting to argue the point..with some extra intelligent non-commissioned officer. 1940 N. Mitford iii. 48 Mary..grudgingly conceded this point. 1991 12 Dec. a6/5 He pressed home once again the point that its advocates are long on principles but short on actual proposals. the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun] > essential part c1385 G. Chaucer 2208 Now comth the point, and herkneth if yow leste. c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer 372 But to the poynt: Nature held on hire hond A formel egle. c1450 (c1405) (BL Add. 41666) (1936) 1333 (MED) Þees sweuenes of sobre men wittes..prouen ofte to þe poynt of pourpoos in deede. ?1483 W. Caxton tr. iii. sig. gvii Therfore euery man oughte to kepe hym self fro ouermoche talkyng as they eten and drynken, For thou oughtest to speke to the poynte whan it is tyme. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) lxix. 236 Come to ye poynt, and vse no more such langage nor suche serymonyes. 1606 v. iii. sg. H3 But the point is, I know not how to better my selfe. 1693 T. Creech in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal xiii. Argt. 255 Then coming closer to his Point, he tells him..The Wicked are severely punisht by their own Consciences. 1738 tr. S. Guazzo 12 Let us now come to the Point in Hand. 1791 A. Radcliffe I. ii. 66 ‘Is it impossible for you to speak to the point?’ said La Motte. 1843 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. ix. 138 ‘Spare me the fashion of thy mechanicals, and come to the point,’ interrupted Marmaduke. 1868 A. Helps (1876) 256 Do keep to the point, my excursive friends. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato I. 16 The point is not who said the words, but whether they are true or not. 1897 B. Stoker xxi. 287 I was about to call him back to the point, but Van Helsing whispered to me, ‘Let him go on. Do not interrupt him.’ 1951 D. Stivens 126 ‘What's this bloody nonsense about a studio, Sadie?’ I said, going straight to the point. 1993 Mar. 38/1 People waffle, leave sentences in the air, repeat themselves, fumble for words and, worse still, rarely stick to the point. the mind > will > intention > [noun] > intention or purpose > end, purpose, or object c1385 G. Chaucer 1501 For to doon his obseruaunce to May, Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir, He on a courser..Is riden into the feeldes, hym to pleye. a1425 N. Homily Legendary (Harl. suppl.) in C. Horstmann (1881) 2nd Ser. 26 Þe prynce..Opon a day þis poynt wold proue. ?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton (Harl. 6579) i. 46 f. 31v (MED) Þe point of þi þouȝt is set vpon noþing þat is mad..bute onli is enclosed..in ihesu. 1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. xxxi. vii They their counsells led All to this point, how my poore life to take. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. ii. 39 It remaines, As the maine Point of this our after-meeting. View more context for this quotation 1665 W. Temple Let. to Ld. Arlington in (1720) II. 6 I know him to be a Man too firm to be diverted from his Point, or slacken it without some such Maim. 1776 J. Reynolds (1876) 408 If they make it the point of their ambition. 1847 C. Brontë III. xi. 292 He asked me more than once [to marry him], and was as stiff about urging his point as ever you could be. 1865 M. Arnold ii. 74 All it exists for, is to get its ends, to make its points. 1883 R. Broughton III. ix. 81 I presume..that that last remark is to be regarded as a pleasantry, though I fail to see the point of it. 1928 D. H. Lawrence xviii. 334 I can see the point of my own existence, though I can quite understand nobody else's seeing it. 1995 19 Oct. (Suppl.) 2/3 They work to earn, but also because it provides the point to their lives. the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] > advantage, purpose, or worthwhileness 1899 T. Roosevelt iv. 137 There was really no possible point in letting them stay there while I went back. 1903 G. B. Shaw ii. 60 Look here, Ann: if theres no harm in it theres no point in doing it. 1915 V. Woolf xxvi. 434 There did not seem to be much point in it all; one went on, of course one went on. 1923 W. S. Maugham ii. 85 Thornton has plenty of money. Do you think there is any point in his spending his life making more? 1957 J. Osborne iii. ii. 90 Helena. There doesn't seem much point in trying to explain everything, does there? 1963 ‘J. Prescot’ viii. 125 There's precious little point in letting him out on bail when a red judge is going to send him back again for at least a couple of years. 1968 ‘G. Bagby’ vi. 107 What point..could there be in changing the cylinder? 1971 P. Mortimer viii. 80 ‘Will you..get married?’.. ‘There doesn't seem any point.’ 1996 13 Oct. (Mag.) 42/2 Cliff may be able to hold a tune but what's the point when it's yet another sickeningly twinkly dirge about peace on earth. the world > action or operation > completing > [noun] c1385 G. Chaucer 2965 But shortly to the poynt than wol I wende And maken of my longe tale an ende. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan (Cambr.) (1977) 121 (MED) If so wer that I had a knyfe, I wolde right sone bryng that matier to a poynte. ?1544 J. Heywood sig. B.iv Ye shall neuer haue them at a fall poynt. 1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Ded. 3 To bring that to some good pointe, that earst I had begonne. 1600 W. Shakespeare i. ii. 10 First,..say what the Play treats on: then read the names of the Actors: & so grow to a point . View more context for this quotation 1633 J. Durie in (1887) 307 Thought it necessarie to put the matter to some poynt at that diet. 1686 Bp. G. Burnet v. 253 I thought I had made so full a point at the conclusion of my last Letter, that I should not have given you the trouble of reading any more Letters. 1765 L. Sterne VII. xliv. 155 My mule made a dead point. 1792 H. H. Brackenridge I. vi. i. 127 But to bring the matter to a point, the true way is to get another mistress. 1833 H. Martineau i. 7 He is bringing his invention to a point. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > perfection > [noun] > peak of perfection the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > state of or advanced condition > highest point c1400 (?c1380) (1920) 1502 In þe poynt of her play he porvayes a mynde. c1425 tr. J. Arderne (Sloane 6) (1910) 7 (MED) He is noȝt worþi of þe poynt of swetnes that kan noȝt be lymed with greuyng of bitternes. 1576 A. Fleming 17 (margin) It is the point of folly to shew a will to hurte him, whom thou canst not..by any meanes annoy. 1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes ii. v. 93 in II He is my Nephew, and my Chiefe, the Point, Tip, Top, and Tuft of all our family! 1640 F. Quarles (1641) Ded. Your Highnesse is the Expectation of the present Age, and the Poynt of future Hopes. 1728 A. Ramsay v This point of a' his wishes, He wadna with set speeches bauk. 13. the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [noun] > a characteristic the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [noun] > a characteristic > good or fortunate characteristic a1425 (a1325) (Galba) 27630 (MED) If þou be faire, þou think alswa þat all þir pointes sone passes þou fra. a1450 (1969) l. 1306 Why makyst þou grochynge vndyr gore Wyth pynynge poyntys pale? a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Trial of Fox l. 958 in (1981) 40 This suddand semblie..Haifand the pointis off ane parliament. 1577 H. Rhodes (new ed.) sig. D.iv To forbeare in anger is, the poynt of a friendly leeche. 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe 449 b A shyft of subtle sophisters, and not a poynt of sober Divynes. 1604 King James VI & I sig. Dv It is become..a point of good fellowship..to take a pipe of Tobacco. a1683 J. Oldham Remains in Verse & Prose 27 in (1684) You'd lack no point that makes a Deity, If you could like it too Immortal be. 1708 F. Atterbury 156 To be Cautious, and upon our Guard, in receiving Doctrines..is a Point of great Prudence. 1762 W. Dodd 32 'Tis..a point of great prudence in the governors of colleges, that the she bed-makers should be bothe aged and uninviting. 1840 J. S. Mill in 32 260 The strong points of each [sc. Bentham and Coleridge] correspond to the weak points of the other. 1889 ‘F. Anstey’ i. ix Description was not Lettice's strong point. 1934 220 Nor can one imagine a devotee of variety or vaudeville finding any good points in a ‘contemporary’ or chamber music recital. 1995 Feb. 19/1 The worst point is that the ringer is on the bottom of the phone. 1740 G. Fisher Gentleman & Farmer's New Guide in (ed. 5) 331 A Man ought to be of good Judgement, and very watchful concerning the Points of a Horse. 1780 J. O'Keeffe ii. 35 Well, I know the points of a horse. 1841 G. Borrow II. iii. ii. 56 Much better versed in the points of a horse than in points of theology. 1894 G. Armatage iv. 47 The points essential to a hunter are a lean head and neck [etc.]. 1943 D. Welch xvii. 141 I touched the muscles as they raced across his back... It was like judging the points of a beautiful dog. 1992 Nov. 118/2 The judges do stand them up..to check the points of proportion. 1912 3 305 These four points taken together are pretty conclusive proof that the two editions did not issue from the same printing-office. 1928 9 78 Robert Metcalf Smith's The Shakespeare Folio was a thorough study of the ‘first folios’ in libraries of the United States that added to knowledge already possessed of bibliographical points and details of condition. 1931 J. Schwartz (title) 1100 obscure points. The bibliographies of 25 English and 21 American authors. 1947 44 212/1 What he ought to have recorded are the specific differences (I hesitate to use the word ‘point’, which has fallen so low in bibliographical usage that it often means only a blurred letter)..by which anybody can tell which edition is which. 1998 J. K. Bracken (ed. 2) 342 Part III cumulates the several bibliographical points for all printings of each work. 2009 (Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas) ii. 241 This copy has the following ‘traditional’ or commonly identified bibliographical points: the title-page is a cancel, with the copyright notice dated 1884; [etc.]. the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [noun] 1477 E. Brews in (2004) II. 436 Ȝe wold neuer breke the mater to Mergery vn-to suche tyme as ȝe and I were at a poynt. 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1893) xxxii. 68 At thende the kyng cam so to poynt that they were appeased goodly. 1530 T. Cranmer Let. 13 June in J. Strype (1694) App. 5 After all this he commeth to the poynte to save the kyngs honour. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in (1557) 59/1 Yet was [he] at a pointe in his owne mynde, toke she it wel or otherwise. 1578 T. White 22 A great sorte are at a playne poynt, they are carelesse of their soules, so their bodye maye bee free. 1660 Bunyan in (1870) 97 When they saw that I was at a point, and would not be moved nor persuaded. 1678 J. Bunyan 6 I begin to come to a point; I intend to go along with this good man. 1738 D. Neal IV. 85 His Highness [sc. Cromwell] was at a point, and obliged them to deliver up the island of Polerone in the East Indies. 1747 S. Richardson I. xlii. 294 I must let you talk in your own way, or we shall never come to a point. ***** A prick, a dot. 15. the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > a hole bored, pierced, or perforated > made with a sharp-pointed instrument > a prick c1392 26 (MED) Ther mot be a smal prikke..which..is the centre of thin epicicle..Set the fix point of thy compas in the centre of thin Epicicle, þt is, the poynt in the hed of the nail. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 142 Make a poynt bi þe space of a litil fyngre from þe oon eende of þe wounde, & anoþer poynt at þe oþere eende of þe wounde. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Paris) (1971) 67 (MED) The matrice..haþ also a priue poynte, as þe hole in þe ȝerde. (Harl. 221) 406 Poynte, punctus, vel punctum. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in i. f. cccxxx Al these thynges mowe nat let thy purpose, by the leest poynt that any wight coude pricke. 1704 J. Harris I. at Prick To prick the Chart or Plot at Sea, signifies to make a Point in their Chart whereabouts the Ship is now. 1791 G. Adams 110 With a fine prick punch, make a point at a. 1800 D. Fenning 206 In a decimal fraction there is a point or prick towards the left-hand of the numerator. 1826 W. Kirby & W. Spence IV. 270 A Point (Punctum), a minute impression upon the surface, but not perforating it.] the world > matter > colour > variegation > spot of colour > [noun] > small spot or speckle the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [noun] > that which is small > a small space or extent > a point of space the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit > a particle a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 246 (MED) Þer wole in his iȝe appere a reed poynt, or a corn. c1450 in J. Norri (1992) 115 A rede poynte of blode ygaderyd togedre as it were a drope of blode. a1500 tr. Lanfranc (Wellcome) f. 32bv (MED) If þer be eny bile in þe eye owther with obtolmya or after..þe token be A rede poynt in þe stede þat is clepid cornea. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio 202 Now he only subscribed Rey ::· pointed with fiue points, called by the Portugals the fiue wounds. 1663 Marquis of Worcester §4 This invention..so abbreviated that a point onely sheweth distinctly and significantly any of the 24. Letters. 1729 W. Law xiii. 228 As the fix'd stars..appear but as so many points. 1752 W. Warburton (1811) IX. ii. 34 The Earth is but a point compared to the orb of Saturn. 1822 J. M. Good III. 609 The pupil, instead of being dilated, is contracted to a point. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. VIII. 550 The lesions begin as minute scaly points in the epidermis. 1963 F. Gettings 59 Seurat and his friends used small points of colour. 1992 June 395/1 These tiny points of raking light allow every detail to be seen with clinical precision. 16. A dot or other small mark used in writing. society > communication > writing > written character > punctuation > [noun] > point or stop > full stop c1395 G. Chaucer 1480 Þer a poynt, for ended is my tale. (Harl. 221) 479 Strek, or poynt be-twyx ij clausys yn a boke, Liminiscus. c1450 Med. Recipes (BL Add. 33996) in F. Heinrich (1896) 86 (MED) Take þrie oblies, and wryte on þat on: pater alpha..and make apoynt..on þat oþer: filius est vita, and make two poyntes. 1530 J. Palsgrave 15 b A poynt, whether it be suche as the Latins call punctum planum thus made . ,..or with suche as the Latins cal comma thus made : , or uirgula thus made /. 1587 F. Clement 25 The perfect pause, or full point is set down in the line immediatly after the last word. 1623 W. Lisle in tr. Ælfric ad init. The Saxon vseth our note of Full-point commonly for all other distinctions. 1665 R. Hooke 3 A point commonly so call'd, that is, the mark of a full stop, or period. 1755 J. Smith iv. v. 77 These are the Names and Figures of what Founders reckon among Points, and Printers call References. 1795 L. Murray 169 The Interrogative point, ? The Exclamation point, !. 1837 Apr. 295 There should be a full point after church of the living God. 1891 7th Ser. 12 99/2 All abbreviations being uniformly denoted by the full-point. 1963 H. Shaw xvi. 91 When ellipsis periods come at the end of a statement requiring a period, then four of these ‘suspension periods’ or ‘suspension points’..are occasionally used. 1995 10 83/1 There is no full point after Dr, Mrs, Ms, or Mr. b. Music. c1570 Art of Music (BL Add. 4911) f. 6v, in at Point Major prolation..Of the quhilk the sing is ane pwint within ane circle or half ane cirkill. 1597 T. Morley 12 I pray you say what Prickes or poynts..signifie in singing. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) We still use a Point to raise the Value of a Note, and prolong its Time by one half. ?1775 W. Waring tr. J.-J. Rousseau 319 There are, in our ancient music, six sorts of points, viz. Point of perfection, point of imperfection, point of increasing, point of division, point of translation, and point of alteration. 1851 X. 199/1 In modern music, the point, taken as an increased power of the note, is always equal to the half of the note to which it appertains. 1907 at Point Point of alteration or duplication, a dot placed before two short notes in ‘perfect’ or triple rhythm, to indicate that the second of them is to be reckoned as of twice its ordinary length. 1919 55 It was from a..richness and variety of rhythm displayed in their polyphonic work that XVI century musicians made so much use of the point of perfection. 1923 J. Pulver 6 This dot or sign was called the Punctum alterationis, or Point of Alteration. 1960 D. A. Hughes & G. Abraham ii. 48 The distinctive Italian practices of the fourteenth century grew out of the use of the dot, or point, of division. 2000 22 5/1 The use of the punctus divisionis (‘point of division’, to mark off mensural units) is, like early use of barlines, suggestive of just this temporal grid. society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > notation > [noun] > character in notation > point 1655 C. Simpson Campion's Art composing Musick in Parts in J. Playford ii. 2 (note) Counterpoint..was that old manner of composing parts together, by setting points or prickes one against another. 1676 E. Coles at Counterpoint Opposition, composing parts (in Musick) by setting point or note against note. 1730 N. Bailey et al. Point (in Musick) a mark or Note antiently used to distinguish the Tones. 1782 C. Burney II. 39 Points were first used simple, afterwards with tails. society > communication > writing > written character > [noun] > written character not a letter > diacritic 1614 J. Selden 102 The three words haue ouer the Aliphs their point Vashlu. 1668 Bp. J. Wilkins 365 That Argument..against the Antiquity of the Hebrew Points, or Vowels. 1749 D. Hartley i. iii. 312 The Manner of writing Hebrew without Points. 1776 J. Richardson iii. 11 When final..it [ﻩ] has often two points above. 1834 II. 219/1 In it [the Cufic character] the Koran was written, originally without diacritical points and vowels. 1891 A. F. Kirkpatrick i. Introd. vii. 51 The present elaborate system of vowel marks or ‘points’, commonly called the ‘Massoretic punctuation’ or ‘vocalisation’. 1913 at Tittle Any one of the Hebrew and Arabic vowel-points and accents. 1963 D. M. Matheson tr. F. Schuon ii. 61 The Basmalah is itself contained in the first letter bā and..this is contained in its diacritical point. 2003 II. 139/2 They were reduced to writing in the post-Talmudic period..through the insertion of ‘points’ into the received consonantal text. d. the world > relative properties > number > ratio or proportion > fraction > [noun] > decimal > point or place 1704 J. Harris I. at Decimal There must be just as many Decimal Parts cut off by the Separating Point, from the Product, as there are Decimals in both Factors. 1795 C. Hutton 359/2 I place the point near the upper part of the figures, as was done also by Newton; a method which prevents the separatrix from being confounded with mere marks of punctuation. 1883 46 498 It is of no importance which power of ten is chosen, since in changing the base we simply have to shift the point in the decimal fraction. 1937 11 254 He could double or halve it repeatedly by simply moving the binary point. 1950 4 233 dj is the jth octal digit to the right of the octal point. 1951 M. V. Wilkes et al. (1982) i. 4 The binary point is assumed to come immediately to the right of the sign digit. 1992 H. Aigner in C. Blank I. 748 Conflicting standards arise because of the convention of using a point to separate the integer and decimal parts of a number in English,..while on the European continent a comma normally performs this task. 1997 39 62 Add D+ and −D+..(and multiply by 16 to remove the binary point). 1898 R. Kipling in 10 Nov. 5/2 You'd need a nine point two to do that properly. 1900 9 June 5/3 Two ‘four-point-sevens’,..two naval twelve-pounders.., and two five-inch guns. 1941 C. Reynolds xiii. 147 If this sow divides her eight mouthpieces by three, we get a ration of two point six recurring per piglet. 1958 ‘P. Bryant’ 118 He watched the Machmeter carefully as it moved up from point nine. 1970 G. Chapman et al. (1989) I. xxi. 287 The wings of a fully grown male mosquito can in fact fetch anything up to point eight of a penny on the open market. 1995 D. Carey & J. I. Kirkland i. x. 108 Range, four point one parsecs and closing. ****** A stitch. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > pillow or bobbin 1619 Payment Sept. in S. M. Kingsbury (1933) III. 179 For .5. grosse of poynts xijs vjd. 1662 J. Evelyn iv. 56 Isabella, who was his wife, publish'd a book of all the sorts of Points, Laces, and Embroderies. 1663 S. Pepys 18 Oct. (1971) IV. 337 My wife, in her best gowne and new poynt that I bought her the other day, to church with me. 1673 J. Ray 156 Venice is noted..for Needle-work Laces called Points. 1686 No. 2150/4 Lost.., Two Pieces of Old Point of Spain Three Yards long; and a Quarter of a Yard broad, some of it sowed upon a Parchment, and new Purled. c1710 C. Fiennes (1888) 252 Fine point or Lace sleeves and Ruffles. 1756 M. Calderwood (1884) 308 Her hair curled and powdered, with a little cap, or perhaps but a point, and nothing more on their heads. 1865 F. B. Palliser xiii. 181 The dates of the patterns of Alençon point..correspond with the architectural styles of the period. 1882 A. S. Cole in XIV. 186/1 The different sorts of early Venetian point laces are called ‘flat Venetian point’, ‘rose (raised) point’, ‘caterpillar point’, ‘bone point’, &c. 1930 T. Wright (new ed.) II. xv. 219 During the Regency (1810–1820) there was made in Northamptonshire a striking lace, with fillings of a bold character, which was called Regency Point. 1975 H. Duncan vi. 144 Patricia in black velvet..with a white lace collar. It would be real lace, rose point, or something like that. 1995 J. L. Kessell et al. 334 Milan lace..was a bobbin lace..made in imitation of Venetian point. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > woven > coloured stripe or bar in 1780 T. Hutchins Let. in (1935) June 47 [They] had misunderstood him about the price of the pointed blankets as the points were known to every Indian to be the price to be paid for each as 21/ 2 points, 21/ 2 beaver, 3 points, 3 beaver, etc. 1818 T. L. McKenney (1846) I. 309 Northwest Company blankets—so called—three points, to measure six feet six inches long. 1935 June 47 Blankets of the Hudson's Bay Company were made with the bar only by individuals in their own homes, each maker putting a distinctive mark, a ‘point’ on his product to show the size and weight. These ‘points’ were usually in coloured wools and usually about one inch long. 1999 3 Dec. c. 9/5 The ‘points’ refer to dark six-inch-long lines woven into each blanket. II. Senses relating to a sharp or pointed extremity (corresponding broadly to French pointe: see the etymology). * A sharp end. 19. A sharp, tapering end or tip. the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > [noun] > a point c1300 (Laud Misc. 108) (1889) 57 (MED) Gleyves glowende some setten To bac and brest and boþe sides, Þat in his herte þe poyntes mettin. c1330 Sir Degare (Auch.) 1059 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale (1930) 319 Þi swerd i knowe hit..Þe point is in min aumenere. c1380 G. Chaucer 440 Lyk a bladdre..with a nedles point whan it is blowe, May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 27 Take also a litill bawme on þe poynt of þi knyffe. c1460 (a1325) (Laud) 10626 May no man wryte with penne ne point. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Bviiv It is nat so moche as a pynnes poynte, compared to the hole erth. 1580 J. Lyly (new ed.) f. 13v Setting a teene edge, where thou desirest to haue a sharp poynt. 1611 Jer. xvii. 1 The sinne of Iudah is written with a pen of yron, and the point of a diamond. 1663 J. Mayne tr. Lucian sig. K2v Feel the tongue and point of the hook with your fingers..and take you the boldnesse to be caught, and like a Sea-cob swallow the whole bait. 1722 J. Quincy (ed. 2) 5 Particles that affect the Taste with Points sharp and piercing. 1767 B. Gooch 176 Raising the vessel a little..with the point of the knife. 1840 D. Lardner i. 6 The point of the finest needle. 1886 C. F. Woolson vii. 129 He sharpened all the pencils industriously, taking pains to give each one a very fine point. 1923 May 641/2 [He] thrust the point of his palette-knife under an impasto'd mass of paper. 1988 D. Ing 264 The ten-inch blade has a wicked, daggerlike point which can bore reasonably well through wood. 2000 T. Hall (2001) iii. 69 It was an ominous-looking weapon, essentially a metal rod with a sharp point at one end and a hook welded to the other. the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 321 (MED) Brennynge cooles..scaldede þe poynt of his tonge. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 80 Stanes, þe whilk er noȝt so hard as dyamaundes, and comounly þaire poyntes er broken off. 1483 (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 285 A Poynte of a nese, pirula. 1551 R. Record i. iii Set one foote of the compasse in the verye point of the angle. 1622 E. Chaloner 348 He had mis-repeated a writing so ready at the point of euery mans tongue. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 260 The Mountain of Elwend, which is discover'd..by the whitenesse of its sand and by the extraordinary height of its points. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot ii. 154 The Stern is very low, but the Head is as high again, and draws into a sharp point as the Gondolos of Venice. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter ii. xiii. 276 On spreading their sails horizontally, and putting bullets in the centers of them to draw them to a point, they caught as much [rain] water, as filled all their cask. 1780 A. Young (Dublin ed.) I. 264 Crossing some of this undressed ground, we came to the point of a hill. 1834 H. McMurtrie tr. G. Cuvier (abridged ed.) 441 The chrysalides are always rounded, or without angular elevations or points. 1881 C. Gibbon iii Mr. Calthorpe tapped the points of the fingers of each hand together. 1939 Nov. 858 Commanders of formations only will wear a scarlet cord boss at each point of the collar. 1990 T. Hillerman x. 127 They had come together violently at the point of the triangle—two hundred miles from either one's home. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > [noun] > point society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > offer challenge of single combat or duel > engage in single combat or duel 1598 W. Shakespeare v. iv. 20 I saw him hold Lord Percy at the poynt . View more context for this quotation 1652 J. Tatham iv. i But mayn't I Bar points, being the Challenged? 1762 T. Smollett I. iii. 70 They would have come to points immediately, had not the gentlemen interposed. 1772 R. B. Sheridan July (1966) I. 31 I struck Mr. Mathews's point so much out of line that I stept up and caught hold of his wrist or the hilt of his sword. 1887 Sir F. Pollock in XXII. 801/2 The effective use of the point is a mark of advanced skill. 1933 H. Allen I. i. vii. 93 For with each motion of his feet the blade of the marquis assumed the exact line which at once guarded his body and advanced his point. 1997 W. M. Gaugler iv. 205 In sabre fencing simple attacks are effected with the point, the cut, and the counter-cut. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > bowable instrument > [noun] > bow > nut or head 1722 T. B. (ed. 3) ii. 26 You will best poize the Bow, and give a bolder touch upon the Strings,..by stretching out your Arm without bowing your Body, and keeping the point of your Bow upwards. 1751 F. Geminiani Ex. IB. 2 The best Performers are least sparing of their Bow; and make Use of the whole of it, from the point to that part of it under, and even beyond their Fingers. 1847 Feb. 172/2 The modern French players..become thready and wanting in strength towards the point of the bow. 1920 29 Sept. 7/3 We had to hear a G minor tune, meant to be flung off lightly with the point of the bow. 1962 I. Galamian 53 They [sc. children] should be given shorter bows or told not to use that section, near the point, which causes the trouble. 1992 20 18/2 Bows with..a fairly substantial head high enough to make the separation of hair from the stick at the point greater than..that at the heel. 20. The front or leading edge of a group. society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > part of army by position > [noun] > van or front a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. xx. 2 Þe prest shal stonde byfore þe poynt [a1425 L.V. scheltrun; L. aciem], & þus he shal speke to þe peple. a1382 (Bodl. 959) Josh. viii. 14 Þe kyng of hay..wente out wiþ al þe hoost of þe cite, & he dressede þe poynt aȝeyns þe desert. society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > part of army by position > [noun] > wing or flank society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > navy > a naval force or fleet > [noun] > wing 1550 T. Nicolls tr. Thucydides 222 b The Peloponesians auaunced..to the ende to haue enclosed with their left poyncte [Fr. leur pointe senestre], the ryght poynct of the Athenians. 1614 W. Raleigh i. v. v. §8. 698 The Latines, as vsually, were in the points; the Romans, in the maine battell. the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [noun] > foremost part or position in moving company society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > formation > [noun] > position at head of wedge or column society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [noun] > for guard duty > advanced guard 1589 30 Sir Henrie Norris (whose Regiment had the poynt of the Vangard). ?1591 T. Coningsby Jrnl. Siege Rouen (Harl. 288) 26 in (1847) I Who should have the pointe it was longe disputed..the lord Audley wan it, and for leading of the poynte Sir John Wingefield wan yt of Sir Thomas Baskerville, who with 300 men was the second. ?1591 T. Coningsby Jrnl. Siege Rouen (Harl. 288) 32 in (1847) I Our quarter, where we should have the pointe and be firste lodged. 1903 Ld. Wolseley I. ii. 62 What is now commonly called ‘the point of the advanced guard’ consisted of four privates and myself. 1938 E. A. Powell xxv. 204 Ghazi Mansour..sent three of his men ahead as a ‘point’. 1969 I. Kemp v. 102 Goad walked point and I..took the tail, with the rest of squad well spaced out between us. 1992 G. M. Fraser 107 Forster, who was on point, covered him, and the Jap unslung his rifle and sat down. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [noun] > herding of cattle > position at front of herd 1916 ‘B. M. Bower’ xiv. 245 You see a herd drifting before a storm maybe—a blizzard like yesterday, with your pal riding point. 1927 Feb. 178/1 Consider the passing herd... At the ‘point’ ride two men, at the ‘drag’ two more, while other horsemen loiter on either flank. 1964 F. O'Rourke 118 Fardan trotted past the mules and took the point. 1994 J. Tuska i. 24 Tunstall, Brewer, and Widenmann riding point ahead of the horses which followed in single file. 21. An object or item with a tapering tip. the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > [noun] > pointed object or part society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > arrow > [noun] > piece of wood to balance head the world > plants > part of plant > thorn or prickle > [noun] the world > relative properties > measurement > measuring instrument > [noun] > for measuring distances > compasses, dividers, or callipers > leg of a pair of compasses 1390 in L. T. Smith (1894) 35 (MED) Johanni Dounton pro j gros poyntes, iij s..pro iiij c clauis paruis..pro ij chesell. 1408 in M. T. Löfvenberg (1946) 52 (MED) [One] groos [of] poyntz. 1545 R. Ascham ii. f. 14v Two poyntes in peecing be ynough, lest the moystnes of the earthe enter to moche into the peecinge, & so leuse the glue. Therfore many poyntes be more plesaunt to the eye, than profitable for the vse. 1590 Acct.-bk. of William Wray in (1896) 32 374 A gr[oss] doble hard poyntes, iis. iid. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta v. xvii. 373 Every one tooke a poynt of Manguay, which is like vnto an awle or sharpe bodkin. 1669 S. Sturmy ii. ii. 53 A Brass pair of Compasses to go with an Arch and Screws..and four Steel Points to take in and out. a1737 J. Hutchinson (1738) 132 The Spirit or Grains of Atoms..are split and divided..as if they were driven against so many Spikes or Points. 1777 S. Robson 35 Of the pericarpy. Muricate, covered with sharp points. 1826 16 Jan. 4/1 An extensive Assortment of Ironmongery and Hardward, consisting of fine clasp, fine clout..points and spikes, Derby horse nails [etc.]. 1890 4582/3 Point,..a triangular piece of zinc for holding glass in the sash before the putty is put in. 1893 P. H. Emerson xxxix. 231 That's good for drawing points..out of your hand. 1978 H. E. L. Andrew 97/2 One can also scratch Perspex (Plexiglass) with the point of a compass. 2003 (Nexis) 3 Aug. a10 He is beaten with a leather strap studded with metal points. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > [noun] > pointed weapon ?c1425 (c1378) W. Langland (Calig.) (1975) B. viii. 98 (MED) Poyent [c1400 Laud A pyke is on þat potente to pulte adown þe wikked]. 1488 in T. Thomson (1815) 5 Item,..within the said box a point maid of perle contenand xxv perle with hornis of gold. ?1510 (de Worde) sig. Aiijv How many poyntes were they now a dayes And yet a good poynt amonge them were to fynde Daggers of vengeaunce redy to make affrayes. 1601 B. Jonson i. iii. sig. C4v Ile learne you..to controll any mans point in the world. View more context for this quotation 1627 W. Duncomb tr. V. d'Audiguier iii. 54 Lidian, who entring with a point upon his enemy,..run him cleane thorow. 1719 E. Young iii. 40 Let each Man bear A steady Point well levell'd at his Heart. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > backgammon > [noun] > board > point c1450 C. d'Orleans (1941) 56 (MED) He chargid me alway Myn entirpoynt to kepe. 1588 R. Greene sig. A4v That his Friend Egistus had entered a wrong pointe in his tables. 1595 R. Southwell (1596) 22 God casteth the dice, and giueth vs our chaunce; the most we can doe, is, to take the poynt that the cast will affoord vs. 1680 C. Cotton (ed. 2) xxvii. 114 [Tick-tack] Boveries is when you have a man in the eleventh point of your own Tables, and another in the same point of your Adversaries directly answering. 1743 E. Hoyle ii. 10 The next best Point (after you have gained your Cinq. Point) is to make your Barr Point. 1863 G. F. Pardon 331 Backgammon is played..on a board divided into sections, and figured with twenty-four points or flèches. 1960 R. C. Bell 43 Each player's side of the board contains two sets of elongated triangles known as points. 1992 A. R. Taylor 170/1 All the pieces are moved around the board along the points according to the throw of the dice. the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > suppuration > [noun] > a suppuration > agnail or whitlow 1653 R. Saunders i. 73 If about these nails..be an excoriation of the flesh, which is commonly called points. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > [noun] > engraving tools society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > chisel > [noun] > for cutting stone or brick 1662 J. Evelyn i. 9 Not much unlike to our Etching with points, and Needles on the Vernish. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) Engravers, Etchers, Wooden Cutters, Stone Cutters, &c. use Points to trace their Designs on the Copper, Wood, Stone, &c... Statuaries, &c. have likewise Points in manner of little Chissels, used in the first forming or sketching out their Works... Lapidaries have Iron Points, to the Ends whereof are fastened Pieces of Diamonds, serving to pierce the precious Stones withal. ?1790 J. Imison Curious & Misc. Articles (new ed.) 40 in (ed. 2) If the lines are too small, pass over them again with a short but round point. 1823 P. Nicholson 341 The Point is the smallest kind of chisel used by masons. 1880 xxxi. 9 The Royal sketches evince a true feeling for art, and much ability with the etching point. 1936 W. E. Cox in Pref. p. viii The student..may make up his mind whether he would prefer to work with the Japanese brush, the burin, the etching point or any other tool. 1991 Jan. 19/1 Points..are available in various types including blunt, pointed and broadhead. society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > parts of printers or presses > [noun] > tympan > point society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > parts of printers or presses > [noun] > tympan > point > plate carrying 1683 J. Moxon II. 70 This Point is made of a piece of small Wyer about a quarter and half quarter of an Inch high. 1683 J. Moxon II. 70 The Points are made of Iron Plates about the thickness of a Queen Elizabeth Shilling:..at the end of this Plate..stands upright the Point. 1728 E. Chambers at Printing To regulate the Margins, and make the Lines and Pages answer each other when printed on the other side; in the middle of the Wood in the sides of this Tympan are two Iron Points which make two Holes in the Sheet. 1770 P. Luckombe 335 [He] presses a little gently upon the Tympan just over the Point-ends of each Point. 1825 T. C. Hansard 912 Those sheet-anchors of pressmanship called points. 1890 C. T. Jacobi 178 The sole object of points is to obtain perfect registration in backing. 1937 S. A. Kimber 40 The points are made of thin sheet iron of different lengths... The screws are placed in the slots in the side of the tympan and serve to hold the points in any desired position. 1996 G. A. Glaister (ed. 2) 387/1 Points, short pins in the sides of a tympan which pierce the sheets to ensure the pages will be in register when they are backed up. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > diamond > [noun] > uncut 1698 J. Fryer 213 The Names of Rough Stones [sc. diamonds], according to their Forms and Substance.. A Point.. An ½ Point [etc.]. 1875 E. H. Knight III. 1758/1 Point,..a fragment of diamond containing a natural angle adapted for glass-cutters' uses. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > conduction to earth > [noun] > lightning conductor > extremity of the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > discharge of electricity > [noun] > point of discharge the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical appliances or devices > [noun] > point of discharge or collection society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > parts of > starters > parts of 1747 B. Franklin Let. 1 Sept. in (1751) 12 To show that points will throw off as well as draw off the electrical fire. 1766 in (1916) LII. 275 A new Meeting-House building..was struck with Lightning; it had Points and a Conductor as far as the Bellfree. 1836–41 W. T. Brande (ed. 5) 261 The influence of points in receiving and carrying off electricity has already been adverted to. c1865 H. Letheby in J. Wylde I. 136/2 As the points burn away, the springs keep up a fresh supply. 1870 ‘M. Twain’ in Sept. 424/1 He..said it would be necessary to know exactly how many ‘points’ I wanted put up, what parts of the house I wanted them on, and what quality of rod I preferred. 1901 30 Mar. 299/2 The platinum points [of a sparking plug] are always at the right distance apart. 1902 7 Apr. 10/1 At the rate of a foot in five minutes the carbon point wrought its way, and in a short time the enormous mass of steel had been reduced to fragments that could be easily handled. 1927 R. T. Nicholson xiii. 116 The rapid separation of the points of the contact-breaker. 1968 K. Weatherly 111 I must have dried the flamin' plugs and points twenty times. 1994 Jan. 37/1 On a cold morning, it's called upon to turn over a tired engine with viscous oil and damp points. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > male > [noun] > body and parts > antler > branch 1780 W. Smellie tr. Comte de Buffon VII. 30 The largest [stag]..has horns..about six or seven inches long, with the extremities divided into two points, and a single antler. 1806 W. Clark Jrnl. 11 Mar. in R. G. Thwaites (1905) IV. xxiii. 157 Their horns also differ, those in the common deer consist of two main beams gradually deminishing as the points proceed from it. 1884 R. Jefferies iv. 68 An antler is judged by the number of points or tines which spring from the beam. The beam is the main stem, and the points are the branches. 1939 ‘F. O'Brien’ i. 113 Oh mother of this herd..No stag is following after thee Without twice twenty points. 1991 Aug. 62/3 The bull had seven points on each top, slightly palmated beams, nice back points, decent bez, and one good shovel. the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > equipment for applying medicaments > [noun] > other applicators 1799 C. Kampfmuller tr. F. C. Schumacher in i. 10 On the application of some of them he felt a burning pain to the toes... The points of ebony and ivory were tried; no such heat was perceived here. 1803 10 544 I take the liberty to request you will be pleased to send me, per packet, ..a few ivory points coated with vaccine matter. 1831 16 July 497/1 The medical gentlemen employed in the National Vaccine Establishment of London may be surprised that I have not taken note of the platina, bone, wooden, &c. points made use of by them in the preserving and transmitting of vaccine virus to a distance. 1858 23 Oct. 428/2 The caustic is cut into little pointed laths, very like our vaccine points. 1885 10 Apr. 4/6 The importance of using vaccine lymph fresh from the arm of a vaccinifer in preference to that which has been stored..in tubes or on points. 1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. IV. 776 Our practice is confined to two methods, namely tonsillotomy and the galvano-caustic point. 1948 6 41 Cheyne, in 1850, advocated the superiority of human vaccine lymph kept fluid by the addition of the minimal amount of glycerine over that dried on points in the usual way. 2010 12 143 The search for new sources of spontaneous cowpox and the difficulties physicians had in preserving cowpox stocks on threads, glass or ivory points. society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > track > points society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > road laid with parallel planks, slabs, or rails > [noun] > laid with rails > for tramcars > rail of > movable, for switching track 1838 F. W. Simms 27 Moveable points or sliding rails, and the requisite machinery for moving them. 1852 F. S. Williams App. 384 [A] porter.., while holding the points to shunt a train, had his ankle injured. 1889 G. Findlay 53 It is impossible for the signalman to lower the signals..until the ‘points’ or ‘switches’ have been placed in their proper position. 1922 T. M. Lowry xli. 775 Its [sc. manganese's] principal value is in the manufacture of very tough steels which are capable of resisting wear, as in the pinions of dredger buckets, in tramways points and crossovers, [etc.]. 1932 G. Greene i. i. 3 The passengers cross the..quay, over a wilderness of rails and points. 1978 G. M. Kichenside & A. Williams (ed. 4) i. 6 At some of the larger stations they were assisted by pointsmen who set by hand the points needed to switch a train through a complicated route. 2002 22 May 17/4 This..method of locking is wholly inadequate for a bolted joint that experiences powerful vibrations every time a train crosses the points. society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > types of tools generally > prehistoric tool > [noun] > types of 1901 3 726 Numerous chips and flakes of chert, and points chipped from the same material for spears, arrows, knives, drills and scrapers. 1949 W. F. Albright iii. 59 The Natufian was a thorough-going microlithic culture, consisting largely of blades and points. 1971 J. Bordaz iv. 31 In regions where good stone is comparatively abundant,..it is not unusual to find Levallois points up to six inches long. 1992 17 Mar. c5/2 Sharp stones, known as Clovis points, also were found at the site. 22. A projecting tip or extremity of any kind. the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > promontory, headland, or cape > [noun] the world > the earth > land > landscape > [noun] > landform > projecting ?c1475 in J. Gairdner (1889) 11 (MED) Fro Vamborugh to the poynt of the Ilond the cours lieth north and South. 1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster sig. Jjv He discouered a corner or poynt of the sayd mayne land. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay ii. xviii The point of the Sarail, whereupon the sea beateth. 1603 G. Owen (1892) i. 4 From Kemes head called Pen Kemes pointe North, to St. Gouens pointe in the Southe. 1660 (1926) 256 His point of Meddowe on the south side of Occupessuatuxet Cove. 1704 J. Harris I. (at cited word) The Seamen also call the Extremity of any Promontary (which is a Piece of Land running out into the Sea) a Point; which is of much the same Sense with them as the Word Cape. 1772 D. Taitt in N. D. Mereness (1916) 501 I..viewed this Town which Stands upon a point of Land on the North west side of the River. 1826 T. Flint 258 The entire uniformity of the meanders of the rivers [in Arkansas] called, in the phrase of the country, ‘points and bends’. 1837 W. Irving II. vii. 108 The whole band soon disappeared behind a point of woods. 1883 ‘M. Twain’ iii. 61 The big raft was away out of sight around the point. 1943 L. R. Haggard & H. Williamson i. 12 There is the azure tide inflowing past the Ternery on the point. 1991 May 39/1 Others are moored off lakefront homes on Thompson's Point, a finger of land that forms one side of the bay. society > armed hostility > drill or training > [noun] > place for training > college for officers > specific 1828 J. F. Cooper I. 274 To these relics of a former age, must be added the actual and flourishing establishment at the ‘Point’, which comprises a village of academic buildings, barracks, and other adjuncts. 1922 Nov. 14 Ada's father had been C.O. when we were in the Point, and nearly every member of the class had been at one time or another in love with her. 1971 C. Fick (1973) 167 Sam had worked his way into Dartmouth..and then transferred to the Point. 1990 K. Vonnegut vi. 57 During..my cow year at the Point,..which would have been our junior year at a regular college, we were ordered to walk a tour for 3 hours on the Quadrangle. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > body or parts of horse > [noun] > extremities of 1831 21 July 1/6 A handsome brown horse, with all black points. 1883 W. H. Bishop in Oct. 720/2 He is sixteen hands high, dark bay, and has black points. 1950 (1966) iii. 250 Points..are considered to be: the muzzle, tips of the ears, mane and tail and the extremities of the four legs. 1987 22 Oct. 19/1 He was running a purebred Angus herd, which because of black points does not suffer from photosensitisation. 2004 (Nexis) 31 Jan. 9 The true colored buckskin is the color of tanned deer hide with black points. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > genus Ovus > [noun] > Ovus Aries (domestic sheep) > body and parts of > fleece > on particular parts of the body 1871 18 Mar. 331/2 Sheep that strip at the points, and lose the belly-wool, having a clean head without topknot. 1922 W. Perry et al. iv. 44 The wool should be..well spread on the back, belly, and points. a1948 L. G. D. Acland (1951) 379 Fribby,..the yolky locks round the points taken off by the roller from a decently skirted fleece. 1970 T. B. Harmsworth & J. Page-Sharp 56 Only coarse portions, heavy fribby points, and stained or discoloured pieces should be removed and placed in a basket for the piece pickers to collect and sort. 1990 J. B. D'Arcy ii. 18 The wool grown on these parts—the points—is shorter, more irregular in quality, and less abundant. the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [noun] > colour of fur the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [noun] > defined by colour > markings 1873 20 Sept. 5/5 It [sc. a dog] is of a black fawn colour, with black points, and a round head somewhat like the head of a pug. 1903 F. Simpson xxiii. 259/2 The [Siamese] kittens are born absolutely white..and gradually all the points come. 1935 E. B. Simmons xxix. 149 Blue points are rare, a sort of ‘sport’. 1955 R. Tenent vi. 53 The points—marking the mask, ears, legs, feet, and tail—are all a dense and clearly defined seal-brown. 1972 C. Ing & G. Pond ii. 87/2 The colouring and points [of Birmans] are as for the Siamese. 1990 Feb. 40/1 Today four different types of cats native to the country can be seen there: the solid brown, the blue point, the seal point and the Korat, a solid blue. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > jaws > [noun] > lower > part of 1884 21 Apr. 7/2 He has a favorite cross blow aimed for the point of the jaw or the carotid artery, which seldom fails to end the fight.] 1898 B. J. Angle in W. A. Morgan I. 45 A competitor stopped by a blow on the mark is as much ‘out’ as though rendered helpless by a hit on the point. 1915 E. Corri 229 There is no sleeping-draught like a punch on the point. 1923 16 Feb. 8 He once caught Lewis with a hard right near the point. 1958 F. C. Avis (U.S. ed.) 85 Point, that area of the head between the chin and the ear. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > saddle > receptacle for saddle 1908 (War Office) 166 The front arch extends below the side bars; the extension is known as the ‘points’, and these are intended to help the girths and prevent the saddle from heeling over. 1981 E. H. Edwards 50/1 In modern saddles, the points are cut off short. 2001 (Nexis) 29 Dec. 33 Balance saddles..use a tree with a generous, open headed shape, but no solid framework below the stirrup bars. In other words, the saddle-tree has no points to cause pressure. society > leisure > dancing > ballet > [noun] > tips of toes 1844 19 June 5/2 Her tall and elegant figure slowly revolving on the points of her feet.] 1912 Aug. 449/2 Points.—Exposition of Principles. 1936 N. Streatfeild iv. 52 The children were most impressed by the way the children in the photographs stood on their points. 1977 24 Jan. 36/3 In a pas de deux with Ted Kivitt, she stepped majestically on point..as if there were magnets concealed in her toe shoes. 1994 53/2 Rudolf's choreography always sought the tight rope path: the solos that ended poised on point instead of safely flat. ** A length of some flexible material. 23. A short, tapering length of cord, rope, hair, etc. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > fastenings > lace, cord, or string the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth c1390 G. Chaucer 3322 Yclad he was..in a kirtel of a light waget; Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 33 Y might, and y satte lowe, breke sum of my pointes. a1486 in (1900) 57 43 (MED) Firste ye muste sette on Sabatones and tye hem up on the shoo with smale poyntis. 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in 675/2 It is not al worth an aglet of a good blewe poynte. ?a1550 Debate Somer & Wynter 132 in W. C. Hazlitt III. 41 All is not worthe a poynte of lether. 1603 R. Knolles 1094 [They] made thongs and points of the skins of men and women, whom they had flaine quick. 1615 E. Hoby vi. 265 He hath hardly earned a blew point for his daies worke. 1647 H. Peacham 17 So naturally sparing, that if a point from his hose had broken, he would have tied the same upon a knot, and made it to serve againe. 1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. F. Dedekind 260 A chilling Fear surprizes all his Joints, And makes him ready to untruss his Points. 1762 L. Sterne VI. xix. 81 Rubenius shewed my father..in what manner they laced on,—with what points, straps, thongs, lachets, ribands, jaggs, and ends. 1819 W. Scott II. vi. 94 Assistance in tying the endless number of points, as the laces which attached the hose to the doublet were then termed. 1894 J. B. Salmond (rev. ed.) ix. 90 Dauvit wi' his pints wallopin' amon' his feet, an' his weyscot lowse. 1962 25 Oct. Buckie Thistle widna be able tae buy the pints for 'is [sc. a footballer's] beets. 1984 J. Nunn 18 In the 13th and 14th centuries, hose or stockings were made of wool,..and cut high enough at the sides to be attached to a belt with metal-tipped ties called points. 2000 53 1092 They sold imported textiles..as well as laces, points, thread..and other items to the Queen. the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > tresses or plaits 1604 B. Jonson 41 Her haire bound into foure seuerall points, descending from her Crownes. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > rigging > [noun] > running rigging > ropes for shortening sail > reefing lines 1769 W. Falconer at Reefing The courses of large ships are either reefed with points or..reef-lines. 1802 (Otridge ed.) Chron. 44/2 [He] called to the boatswain to bring a point (a rope doubled with knots at the end), and give the plaintiff a ‘starting’. 1859 20 Aug. 399 Midshipmen into the tops to see the points tied! 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher 534 Point a sail, to, to affix points through the eyelet-holes of the reefs. 1994 Re: Reefing It in rec.boats (Usenet newsgroup) 11 Aug. On a main whose foot fits into a track in the boom, one might as well reef by tying the points around the whole package (wasted sail plus boom). the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > straps 1875 E. H. Knight III. 1758/2 Point..17. (Harness.) A short strap stitched to a wide one for the purpose of attaching the latter to another strap by a buckle. The end of any strap that is provided with holes for the buckle-tongue. *** With reference to the compass. the world > space > direction > [noun] > according to points of the compass society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > compass > card of > point(s) of compass c1503 R. Arnold f. xxxv/2 When the wynde is in any poynte [printed poyte] of the northe all the fowle stynke is blowen ouer the citee [sc. London]. a1527 R. Thorne in R. Hakluyt (1582) sig. D3 The roses of the windes or pointes of the compasse. 1592 J. Lyly i. iv. sig. B4v The two and thirty poynts for the winde. 1634 T. Herbert 206 To this day they [sc. the Chinese] haue but eight points vnto their Compasse. 1694 N. H. 230/2 Not many days had passed ere this extraordinary Passion Wind-mill'd about to the contrary point of the Compass. 1720 D. Defoe 110 They bent their Course one Point of the Compass..to the Southward of the East. 1798 Capt. Millar in Ld. Nelson (1846) VII. p. cliv The leading Ship to steer one point more to starboard. 1856 A. P. Stanley (1858) xiv. 463 The Latin Church..regardless of all points of the compass, has adopted for its Altar the Holy Tomb itself. 1885 53 54/1 Lights..were seen from four to five points on the port bow of the J. M. Stevens. 1931 A. A. Miller xiii. 243 Strong winds from almost any point of the compass spring up by day, carrying clouds of dust and sand. 1994 D. S. Johnson (1997) i. 18 Any good sailor could ‘box the compass’, giving the name of each point in its turn: north, north by east, north northeast, northeast by north, and so on, until all thirty-two points were covered. **** Something that is sharp in an abstract sense. 25. figurative. Sharpness, wit, or penetrativeness of speech, writing, performance, thought, etc.; a witty or incisive speech or action. society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [noun] > incisiveness a1643 W. Cartwright Poems in (1651) sig. S3 All point, all edge, all sharpness. 1675 Duke of Buckingham 114 'Tis epigram, 'tis point, 'tis what you will, But not an elegy. 1791 J. Boswell I. 7 Any thing which my illustrious friend thought it worth his while to express, with any degree of point. 1847 L. Hunt II. viii. 135 A stanza, which has the point of an epigram with all the softness of a gentle truth. 1901 H. James 17 Having a reputation for ‘point’ to keep up, she was always under arms. 1993 Oct. 54/2 Sensitive gradations of tone giving subtle point to plainsong quotations. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [noun] > instance of wit, witticism the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > materials of topic > [noun] > of discourse > salient feature 1694 J. Savage tr. C. de St. Évremond in T. Brown & J. Savage tr. II. ii. 96 Points, Antithesis's and Paradoxes. 1743 A. Pope (rev. ed.) i. 306 Light-arm'd with Points, Antitheses, and Puns. 1843 C. Dickens (1844) xi. 133 The young ladies might have rather missed the point and cream of the jest. 1861 M. Pattison in Apr. 413 An inscription..in which the moral is better than the point. 1876 5 No. 106. 3 Full of capital points, blunted in delivery. 1891 Ld. Coleridge in 65 581/1 He has somewhat misapprehended the point of those observations. 1924 G. B. Shaw Pref. p. vii Socrates..was paralysed by his sense that somehow he was missing the point of the attack. 1961 A. Ginsberg (1988) 191 The whole universe a shaggy dog story! with a weird ending that begins again till you get the point. 1993 J. Critchley (BNC) 59 Harvey..did not really get the point, but..laughed generously in response. 2005 (Nexis) 17 Jan. (Arts section) 7 Cullen's performance is very ragged, full of hesitance and repetition... Jokes and stories keep failing because the punchline or the point is too long delayed. society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > [noun] > piece of technique to underline moment 1822 C. Mathews Let. 4 Oct. in A. Mathews (1839) III. 314 I don't know an instance of a point failing which I considered to be really good myself. 1870 O. Logan 135 I began to practice the effects, the stage walks, the managing of the voice, the general bearing of the person, the making of ‘points’, the attaining of ‘climax’. 1897 G. B. Shaw in 15 May 540/1 He succumbed to the temptation to utter the two or three most fatuously conceited of Helmer's utterances as ‘points’. 1900 T. E. Pemberton ix. 259 So natural is she at all times that she never seems to be ‘making points’ after the crude fashion of inferior actresses. 1916 J. R. Towse 29 Woe to the unfortunate actor who was not on his appointed spot and instant in his speech when he was a factor in one of Macready's laboriously calculated ‘points’. 1952 W. Granville 139 A player who is not capable of ‘making his points’ (i.e. stressing his lines at the right time) will never get over. ***** A position in sport. 26. Sport. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > [noun] > fielding position > specific society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > fielder > fielders by position 1816 W. Lambert 40 The Point. The person who stands at the point, should place himself in a line with the popping crease, about seven yards from the Striker. 1833 J. Nyren 42 The point all the while must keep his face towards the batter, and his arms and hands in their proper position. 1870 J. R. Seeley 165 What can be more serious than a game of Cricket?.. Point does not chat with cover-point. 1916 128 Was it a boundary hit or a catch at point? 1951 3 June 8/7 When he was out—to a brilliant catch by Ken Graveney at point—the bowling had been tamed. 1993 3 Apr. 34/4 When standing at slip to Kortright it was nothing for the bowler to field a ball at point or gully, in his follow-through. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > baseball ground > [noun] > station of pitcher 1860 H. Chadwick 12 The home base and pitcher's point to be each marked by a flat circular iron plate, painted or enameled white. 1886 H. Chadwick 58 Pitcher's Points, these are the four iron quoits laid down on the four corners of the pitcher's position. 1916 7 Jan. 3 a/1 The diamond..includes the four bases..the pitcher's ‘points’ (now merely a memory), and the foul lines. 1939 E. J. Nichols (Ph.D. thesis, Pennsylvania State Coll.) 56 Points, positions of pitcher to catcher. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > lacrosse > [noun] > specific positions 1862 6 Dec. 367/1 Point, who should be a skilful checker in dangerous moments, stands twelve feet in front of him [sc. the goal-keeper]. 1935 379/1 ‘Point’ takes his position immediately in front of goal. 1967 16 May 39/9 Actually, the goaltender led a charmed life. Most of the danger was involved with the fellow who played between point and cover-point. 2003 (Nexis) 16 Apr. 1 d In girls' lacrosse, cover point is like a sweeper in soccer; the point position is like a stopper in soccer. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > [noun] > types of player 1960 11 Mar. 14/1 Playing the point of Garland's zone, Beckmann constantly stole the ball and fled downcourt. 1964 15 Jan. 10/4 I told my boys to watch Nelson on the point so what happens? They move him into the high post. 1979 (Nexis) 29 Mar. g9 The first time I heard I was going to play point..I read it in the paper... I said, ‘Like hell I am.’ 2000 3 Apr. (Sports section) 8 His biggest asset for this game will be his ball-handling; he filled in at point when Cleaves was out injured. III. Senses relating to the action of pointing. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > accusation, charge > [noun] > instance of a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 281 (MED) Herodes..was i-sompned..to Rome for to answere to þe poyntes [L. accusationibus] þat his owne sones putte uppon hym. 1425 IV. 292/2 Diverses persones..haven ben..acused of Treson, Felonye, Lollardrie, and other such poyntes. 1480 W. Caxton (1482) ccxlii. 277 To ansuere to all maner poyntes that the kyng and his counceyll wold put vpon hym. c1540 (?a1400) 7900 The triet men of Troy..mony pointtes on hym put for his pure shame. c1540 (?a1400) 11751 Er any troiens with truthe might telle suche a fawte, Or soche a point on me put in perlament her aftur. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > skirmish the mind > emotion > courage > valour > deed of valour > [noun] > heroic feat society > armed hostility > drill or training > [noun] c1440 (a1400) (Thornton) (1965) 706 (MED) Þe knyght says, ‘I hafe done poyntes twa; Thorow þe myght of God I sall do ma..Damesele, I hafe a poynt [a1500 Cambr. a poynt of armys] vndone; I sall wende and come full sone.’ 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 631 This wes a richt fair poynt, perfay! a1500 (?c1450) 345 (MED) The kynge hadde slain oon of his nevewes at a poynt. c1540 (?a1400) 540 A storre man of strenght..puttes you to perell in pointis of armes. 1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. xviii. ix He me warr points did show, Strengthning mine arms, that I could break an iron bow. 1602 ii. vi. 945 Seeing him practise his lofty pointes, as his crospoynt and his backcaper. the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > action of hawk > [verb (transitive)] > other actions the world > animals > birds > order Falconiformes (falcons, etc.) > family Accipitridae (hawks, etc.) > [noun] > hawk > flight 1595 W. Jones tr. G. B. Nenna f. 25v And as she [sc. the falcon] made her point to stoupe..the phesant tooke a thicke hedge for couert. 1651 N. Bacon 214 Like the Eagle they make many points before they stoop to the prey. 1735 I. (at cited word) The lanner never lieth upon the wing after she hath flown to the mark, but after once stooping she maketh a point. 1828 J. S. Sebright (new ed.) 23 The hawk will make his point—that is, rise perpendicularly in the air over the spot where the bird got into cover. 1852 R. F. Burton iii. 29 The Shikrah..‘makes her point’ and takes her stand on some neighbouring tree or eminence. 1900 E. B. Michell 125 The hawk will mark it [sc. the spot where quarry has put in]..by making her point, i.e. throwing up into the air over the spot, and she will wait on while you beat. 1999 A. Walker 108/2 Make her point, of a short- or long-winged hawk, to rise in the air, marking where quarry has gone into cover. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > parts of 1672 R. Pricke tr. J. Dubreuil 60 Set a leg of the Compass in K, and turn the other towards O, which will frame the Arch L O, set again the compass in L, and make the Arch K O, you shall have one Arch in the third point K O L. 1703 R. Neve 8 Arches of the 3d. and 4th. Point..So our English Authors call 'em, but the Tuscan Authors calls them di terzo, and di quarto acuto, because they always concur in an acute Angle at the Top. 1790 3 Science 71 Of Tuscan workmanship, but in the barbarous style, in the measure of the doors, and very long windows, and in the curvature of the sharp arches of the fourth point. 1842 J. Gwilt Gloss. 1046 Tierce Point, the vertex of an equilateral triangle. Arches or vaults of the third point, which are called by the Italians di terzo acuto, are such as consist of two arcs of a circle intersecting at the top. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > [noun] > direct 1755 J. Shebbeare III. lxix. 33 It seems they had all in turn made a dead Point at this young Earl, tho' unsuccessfully. 1768 III. 239 Just in my way as I was making my point for Lancashire. 32. the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > [noun] > pointing 1771 H. Mackenzie Introd. 3 My dog had made a point on a piece of lee-ground. 1778 at Pointers When your old dog makes a point, if the young one be not near, bring him up by degrees till he spring the birds, and let him enjoy the scent, which will encourage him to hunt. 1892 7 May 695/1 Raffle made two good points on birds. 1903 S. E. White x. 122 The birds had proved themselves most uncultivated..by hopping promptly into trees instead of lying to point and then flushing. 1907 (at cited word) A dog that comes to a point well. 1993 Sept. 36/1 Joe eventually followed fresh tracks three different times and each time he pinned a grouse with a muscle-quivering, bug-eyed point. the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating specific substances or food > [noun] > eating potatoes only 1793 16 Jan. 1/3 How could any of you, whose benevolence should be extensive as the habitations of Man, behold two thirds of your Conntrymen, miserable, oppressed and naked, literally feeding on potatoes and point. 1825 J. Neal I. 75 The potatoes and point of an Irish peasant. 1847 J. Keegan in Mar. 229 He never asked or wished for a better breakfast than ‘potatoes and point’. 1896 28 Nov. 6/2 ‘What are we bahn to hae for dinner, mother?’..‘Nowght but potatoes an' point’. 1907 (at cited word) Bread or potatoes and point, the action of merely pointing or looking at the relish, such as cheese, bacon, fish, etc., and making one's meal of bread or potatoes only. 1931 F. Harris 13 If the money arrived it meant a cooked herring and potatoes dipped in the sauce. If it didn't it meant a dinner of potatoes and ‘point’, for one had to be satisfied with just pointing a potato at an imaginary herring. 1996 C. I. Macafee 200/1 Potatoes and point, a meal of potatoes only. society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > [noun] 1870 J. K. Medbery vi. 83 The first element in speculation is the ‘point’. If the operator has a good ‘point’, he has a ‘sure thing’. 1886 20 Jan. There are friends who honestly and in all good faith give a ‘point’ as to buying this or that Stock. 1895 J. K. Bangs viii. 111 I'd stay and make a contract with you now, but Adam has promised to give me points on the management of wild animals without cages, so I can't wait. Phrases P1. With prepositions. the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > in respect of everything or part > in every respect a1375 (c1350) (1867) 3332 (MED) Wel armed ȝe arn at alle maner poyntes. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll.) 25 Ten thousande were in the forest of Bedgrayne, well armed at all poyntis. c1500 (?a1475) (1896) 607 (MED) He to me come..Armyd at all poyntes. 1589 G. Puttenham iii. vi. 128 Great and vglie Gyants marching as if they were aliue, and armed at all points. 1690 J. Locke iii. v. 208 Those Words, with which they are so armed at all points, and with which they so confidently lay about them. 1735 tr. C. Rollin IV. 88 Six hundred horsemen, armed at all points. 1796 R. Southey vii. 184 At all points arm'd A jazerent of double mail he wore. 1827 J. C. Hare & A. W. Hare I. 184 Armed at all points against carpers and misconceivers. 1885 14 Aug. 139/1 A most formidable antagonist, fully armed at all points..and quick to strike at the weak points of an argument. 1894 G. Armatage ii. 13 Easily beaten at all points by an English horse of second-rate powers. 1929 17 Apr. 17/6 To enable him to start his campaign armed at all points, when the election does take place. 1988 P. Fitzgerald (BNC) 110 Armed at all points against the possible disappointments of her life. b. [after Middle French a point (French à point) in the desired state ( c1245 in Old French), in a suitable manner ( c1275 in Old French).] at point. the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adverb] c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 106 Ane gude knycht..suld sett all his study, till arme him at poynt, and hors him. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 406 He wes arayit at poynt clenly, Outakyn that his hede wes bair. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) vii. l. 2884 Thare wes oure Kyng ressawyd well..And all at poynt and lykyn lede. a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil (1557) ii. sig. Aii The fame wherof so wandred it at point [L. ea fama vagatur]. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > in preparation [phrase] > in a state of preparation or readiness c1485 ( G. Hay (1993) iii. 24 Ane othir poynt of the office of knychthede is, to halde his armouris clene and faire, and wele at poynt. c1550 ii. 1467 When he thocht everie thing was at poynt. 1611 J. Florio Essere in punto, to be in a readinesse, to be at a point. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. iv. 304 'Tis politike, and safe to let him keepe At point a hundred Knights. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adverb] > near in time > about to or on the point of c1432 in (1934) 49 458 (MED) Þees twey men..buþ at poynt to be hange, draw, & quartered þer fore. c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich (1978) 70 (MED) The saule..in the bodye..es euer atte the poynte to be taken. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Eiiii Whan they were at the poynt to haue passed ouer the seconde flod called Iordayn. 1564 N. Haward tr. Eutropius ii. sig. D.vii Pyrrhus was at the poynte to have fled. 1608 W. Shakespeare viii. 24 Who alreadie..are at point to shew their open banner. View more context for this quotation 1685 R. Thorold tr. Agis in J. Dryden tr. Plutarch IV. 566 Agis being now at the point to die, perceiv'd one of the Serjeants bitterly bewailing his Misfortune. 1765 C. Smart tr. cvii. 108 The vital pulse Was at the point to stop. 1808 R. Cumberland ii. 35 Because I am a man, and could not bear to see a lovely creature at the point to die. 1870 W. Morris 228 He seemed at point his whole desire to gain. 1925 E. Blunden 93 The time will come when, at the point to die I'll wish a spirit-stream as cool and clear. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adverb] > near in time > about to or on the point of a1450 (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 626 (MED) Your fadre..Lieth at the point of diyng. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll.) 633 And or hit were day, he let put wylde fyre in three of his owne shippis..And at the poynte of the day the good prynce Bodwyne..set on the myscreauntys. a1500 (?c1450) 585 Be redy at the poynte of day for to ride. 1582 Mark v. 23 My daughter is at the point of death, come, lay thy hand upon her. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta v. xxiv. 396 This should be eaten at the point of day. 1696 N. Luttrell Diary in (1857) IV. 74 The lord Berkley was at the point of sayling. a1729 E. Taylor (1962) 298 When Manuel lay at the point of Death Him Monks did promise life would he give breath. 1765 H. Walpole (1817) II. 312 The dauphin is at the point of death. 1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin III. xx. 493 Should he chance to be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may..have extended thus far. 1897 H. Caine iii. ix. 293 I..told him they were at the point of going. 1901 G. W. James iv. 36 A little Indian girl was at the point of death, having been bitten by a rattlesnake. 1984 S. Terkel (1985) i. ii. 41 One of the nineteen-year-olds, during maneuvers, was at the point of tears. 1998 C. Mims (1999) x. 214 The American Cryonics Society arranges to freeze people in liquid nitrogen when they are at the point of death. the world > time > particular time > [adverb] > at a particular or certain time 1957 9 July 4/1 At this point in time—a little more than a year in advance of the 1958 elections—the prospects of a Republican victory are dim. 1965 A. M. Schlesinger xvi. 417 Never said ‘at this time’ but ‘at this point in time’. 1977 8 June 12/2 At this point in time the private rented sector of the housing market was shrinking. 1996 30 June 73/3 The agriculture policy his government had come out with at that point in time talked specifically of this issue. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > specifically [phrase] > in detail the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > in respect of everything or part > in every respect a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. 2321 (MED) Fro point to point and al the cas He tolde, hou he his Sone was. c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) B. 3652 Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille..Dant..Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) C. 150 Whan shapen was al hir conspiracie Fro point to point, how þat his lecherie Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly. a1475 J. Shirley Death James (BL Add. 5467) in (1818) II. 23 (MED) Thay..confessid..all the conspiration of the Kynges dethe from poynt to poynt. a1500 (Harl. 149) (1974) 126 (MED) Pylat wrote alle the aventures..yn a booke, from poynt to poynt. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo (1586) i. f. 8 It standeth me upon to answere from point to point, to the reasons which you haue brought. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto x. 31 Then I recounted to him from point to point how I was cast away. 1693 ii. 10 How all th' old Dons were at it Ding-dong. Their Themes, the manner and occasion Of every strenuous Disputation; All this from point to point reciting. 1797 tr. Voltaire II. xii. 35 Boneau..Told point by point, most circumstantially, How he had long been held in jeopardy. 1813 W. Scott i. 23 From point to point I frankly tell The deed of death as it befell. 1899 J. H. Rigg (ed. 2) 404 If, from point to point, the wise and equitable thing is Godfearingly carried out. f. [Compare Anglo-Norman en point ; compare also sense 2a.] in point. the world > relative properties > order > in (proper) order [phrase] 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1893) cxxxi. 145 They toke counseyl..and made theyr shippes to be in poynt and redy. 1490 W. Caxton tr. vii. 30 They dyd doo repayre theyr nauyre, & sette it..alle in poynte, wyth alle thynges to theym necessarye. ?1503–5 H. Watson tr. (EETS 204) 80 Euery body put himselfe in poynt and dyde theyr dylygence for to arme them. 1581 A. Hall tr. Homer viii. 145 Iuno steares Right carefull for to put in poynt hir horses and their geares And all the rytes to shining chare. society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > charge: device on shield > [phrase] > manner or type of charge society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > charge: device on shield > [noun] > abatement or mark of dishonour > types of 1562 G. Legh 124 He beareth a pointe in pointe, Or, in a fielde Sable. This is for them yt are slowthfull in warres. 1572 J. Bossewell ii. f. 66 The fielde is of the Jacinthe, a pyle in pointe d'Ermyne, betwene two Zyphes hariante, Lunæ. 1688 R. Holme i. 105/2 He beareth Gules, two Piles Barwise Agent... This is by others Blazoned, a pale Losengie in point, or extending to the sides..of the Escochion. 1704 J. Harris I. (at cited word) He beareth two Piles in Point. 1725 277 The Point is not not confin'd to the Base, for when it proceeds from thence it is call'd a Point in Point. 1786 J. Gutch tr. A. à Wood vii. 204 Arms—Three piles in point, a Canton Erm. without colours. c1828 W. Berry I. Gloss. Pily of eight, traverse in point to the sinister fesse. 1966 H. Gough & J. Parker (new ed.) 458 Ermine, two piles in point..sable—Holles, co. Lincoln. 2002 What is 'Point'? in rec.heraldry (Usenet newsgroup) 27 Oct. The point in point starts at the edges just like an ordinary point plain, but curves up on either side to meet around the honour point of the shield. the world > relative properties > relationship > relevance or pertinence > [phrase] 1633 W. Prynne vii. iii. 582 Can. 51. is most expresse in point. 1659 T. Burton 25 Mar. (1828) IV. 254 Some play or other is in point. 1748 S. Richardson VII. xciii. 345 They are in point to the present subject. 1753 S. Richardson II. iv. 60 All the Christian doctrines, as I have hinted, are in point against it [sc. duelling]. 1796 J. West I. 198 Not recollecting any similitude in point. 1861 T. L. Peacock xxix. 252 I will be bound every one in this company could..find a quotation in point. 1885 30 14 The case of Stokes v. Trumper is not really in point. 1888 J. W. Burgon I. iii. 340 I recall another humble incident somewhat in point. 1999 M. J. Perry ii. 31 A piece of Hart's discussion is in point here. the world > relative properties > relationship > in relation to [phrase] > in respect of or with regard to 1605 F. Bacon i. sig. D2v States were too busie with their Lawes, and too negligent in point of education. View more context for this quotation 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini i. iii. 6 France may vie and weigh even with Greece it self, in point of Learning. 1718 No. 18. 1 Madam Dacier has the Advantage in Point of Erudition. 1777 A. Hamilton Let. 29 July in (1961) I. 296 He agrees with me, in point of the enemy's numbers. 1812 (ed. 2) 32 In point of date, the two events correspond with a singular exactness. 1892 July 585 He [sc. Hardy] is, in point of diction, the most Latinical writer we have had since Dryden and Milton. 1949 J. I. M. Stewart 109 Bradley is really right in point of dramatic feeling. 1992 J. M. Kelly ii. 42 Elected magistrates, ranging in political weight from the annually elected pair of consuls (or, in point of dignity, from the quinquennially elected censor) through the praetors, [etc.]. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > there is danger in a course of action [phrase] > in danger of the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adverb] > near in time > about to or on the point of the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > there is danger in a course of action [phrase] > in danger of > in immediate danger of c1330 in T. Wright (1839) 343 That al Engelond i-wis was in point to spille. c1390 G. Chaucer 331 My sone in point is for to lete The holy lawes of oure Alkaron. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 57 (MED) He..was in poynt to drowne. 1479 Presentm. Juries in (1888) 28 The crosse in the merkythe place, that it is in pounte to fall. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 82 [He] put all the lave jn poynt of perdicioun. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil iv. xi. 55 Dido standis redy to cum in point to de. 1573 in J. H. Burton (1878) 1st Ser. II. 189 Quhairof he hes lyne continewalie bedfast sensyne, and in poynt and dangeare of his lyff. 1641 W. Hakewill 90 The people were in point to rebell had not the king stayed the proceedings. 1906 C. M. Doughty II. v. 49 The old moon now in point to set, they pass The sacred bornes. the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > approximately (an amount) [phrase] > nearly (an amount) the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > future [preposition] > on the point of c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 52 in C. Horstmann (1887) 55 A churche..Þat ope þe poynte was to falle adoun. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 1457 Þe brutons were vpe þe pointe to fle. c1400 in J. Raine (1873) 429 (MED) The whilk realme was on point to be undone for defaute of governaunce. a1500 (a1450) (Trin. Cambr.) 200 (MED) The kyng youre fader..lythe ner vppon the poynte to dye. 1525 in (1836) IV. 320 The gales [= galleys]..ar not yet departed, but upon the pointe of departing; tarying for wynde and weder. 1548 f. xxxijv He had askryed a nomber of horsemen..vppon the poynct of syx thowsand. 1608 T. Middleton sig. D4 Tayl. Whats a clock... Go. Nay tis vpon the point of three. 1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard i. ii. 100 When he was upon the point to fall upon the City, and Castle of Clisson. 1712 E. Budgell No. 307. ¶12 He..was upon the Point of being dismissed. 1771 I. ix. 79 Such a father!..upon the point to die. 1806 T. S. Surr I. i. 11 The fisherman..at one moment was on the point of setting out for Brighton immediately. 1867 H. Macmillan ii. 31 Everything seemed on the point of moving. 1927 T. Wilder ii. 15 Each..was on the point of losing her mind under the alternations of self-rebuke and the outbursts of passion. 1969 G. Friel vii. 99 The man with him had just tabled an empty glass and stood up on the point of leaving. 2004 24 June 73/4 The practice of ‘water-boarding’, strapping prisoners down and submerging them until they are on the point of drowning. †j. [Compare Middle French a point in order (15th cent.).] to point. the world > relative properties > order > in (proper) order [phrase] > into proper order 1481 W. Caxton tr. i. xii. 37 So in lyke wyse trauaylleth Phisyque to brynge Nature to poynt, that disnatureth in mannes body whan ony maladye or sekenes encombreth hit. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1960) xiii. vi. 33 The cite, quhilk was disarayt and schent, To put to poynt and ordinans agane. a1586 Lindsay MS f. 10, in (at cited word) The knychtis..sall disarme thame and wech thair faces and put thame to point to cum and eit with the lord that haldis the feist. the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > completely or perfectly 1590 E. Spenser i. i. sig. A5 Seeing one in mayle Armed to point. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 195 Hast thou, Spirit, Performd to point, the Tempest that I bad thee? View more context for this quotation a1625 J. Fletcher Chances i. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) sig. Aaav/2 Duke. Are ye all fit? 1 Gent. To point Sir. 1873 R. Browning iii. 162 All things thus happily performed to point. the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > completely or perfectly 1861 8 Apr. 4/3 The struggle in Virginia has been narrowed down to a fine point. 1874 T. B. Aldrich v. 65 He wanted money, he wanted a large quantity, and he wanted it immediately. A gold-mine seemed to simplify the matter. To bring it down to a fine point, it was a gold-mine he wanted. 1887 28 Dec. 4/4 A pretty little cantata..has been in progress of rehearsal for a long time, so that all participating have their parts down to a fine point. 1888 in J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley (1902) V. 241/2 Boiled down to a fine point, bondsmen are in demand. 1902 G. H. Lorimer xvii. 253 When she was through I knew that I'd been licked—polished right off to a point. 1911 E. M. Clowes xi. 299 The aboriginal..has brought his powers of observation to a fine point. 1989 T. Constantine (BNC) 16 Interest and desire take over, and concentration sharpens to a fine point. the world > relative properties > relationship > relevance or pertinence > [adjective] 1817 J. Mill III. vi. i. 34 Show, that..the evidence which you call for is evidence to the point. 1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato I. 107 He makes a long speech not much to the point. 1892 92 146/2 The notes are short and to the point. 1924 A. Huxley 28 Oct. (1969) 235 Those Barren Leaves..cuts more ice, I think, than the others and is more explicit and to the point. 1962 1 Apr. 32/8 Dr McCabe asked Groucho for a few words. The resultant Marxism is very much to the point. 1992 D. Pannick vi. 194 Barristers have not always been prepared voluntarily to obey the essential principle of effective advocacy—keep it short and to the point. 1937 (1938) 194 871 We have no decisions in our state directly on point. 1965 243 796 A court, confronted with a unique situation, must, after an unsuccessful search for binding precedent on point, repair to the dictates of public policy to do justice between litigants at the bar of justice. 1990 18 Mar. 24/1 There is no case directly on point, but the case law suggests that..you cannot be held liable. 1993 Nov. 23/1 They should be on the lookout for seminars and publications on point, and make as many contacts in the industry as they can. 2002 May 97/1 But Cruise has always been completely on point; he knew even then that he wanted to work toward ever-higher professional levels. the world > relative properties > quantity > degree or relative amount of a quality, action, etc. > [adverb] > to a certain extent 1774 P. Francis tr. I. de Pinto i. 72 The debts of the state are very useful, up to a certain point. 1823 Ld. Byron lxxxi. 95 Good society Is no less famed for tolerance than piety: That is, up to a certain point. 1853 H. Melville Bartleby i, in Nov. 554/2 Up to a certain point the thought or sight of misery enlists our best affections. 1936 G. B. Shaw ii. 53 Well, it has worked, up to a point. 1978 P. McCutchan vi. 69 ‘There's been a threat, Shard!’ ‘Being taken seriously?’ ‘Up to a point.’ 1991 S. J. Gould iii. 44 The common analogy of the Cardiff Giant with Piltdown Man works only to a point..and fails in one crucial respect. 2001 29 July i. 6/5 Change regarding women's issues..has been permitted only up to a certain point. P2. With other nouns. a. the world > space > direction > in the direction that [phrase] > with direct aim society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [noun] > type of firing 1590 J. Smythe 14 b The Mosquet ranforced and well charged with good powder, would carrie a full bullet poynt and blancke 24 or 30 scores. 1590 J. Smythe 28 The arrowes doo not onelie wound, and sometimes kill in their points and blank, but also in their discents and fall. b. point by point. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione iii. sig. Bb.iiii Those yt go alwaies harking out ye loues of others & disclose them so point by point. 1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay xv. 113 The Aduocate did, point by point, lay open their many heynous offences. 1720 D. Manley 112 She began to make a general Confession of all her past Life,..Point by Point,..without omitting the least Thing. 1799 W. Godwin III. vii. 166 When I came to retrace point by point the discourse he had held, I could not conceive that the turn it had taken originated in accident. 1836 N. Tucker II. vii. 89 The old man..brought us..to a tree, answering, point by point, to the description in his entry of location. 1887 W. F. Barry II. xviii. 82 The party scattered,—some remaining in the study to discuss the drawings point by point. 1954 R. Dahl 227 He got down on his knees and began comparing them carefully point by point. 1997 J. Hatfield & G. Burt 186 Kritschgau detailed point-by-point the systematic way that Mulder had been deceived and manipulated over the years. 1875 W. D. Macray in W. Forrest 6 (note) Omitted here is a multi-page, point by point synopsis of the whole poem. 1903 16 Nov. 7/2 It continues with a point-by-point refutation of the main objections urged by the opponents of Mr. Chamberlain's programme. 1935 45 351 O'Neill has displayed an almost point-by-point fidelity to the original in building a modern parallel. 1964 D. Crystal & R. Quirk ii. 20 The point-by-point and pattern-by-pattern relation between the language and any of the other cultural systems. 1999 25 Feb. (Connected section) 15/2 Amnesty has attempted to set the record straight with a site of its own, using frames to do a point-by-point demolition job on the offending site. c. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] > starting-point the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun] > starting point 1804 M. Lewis Jrnl. c14 May in (1986) 228 The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure. 1876 W. E. Gladstone 9 To begin by stating my point of departure. 1927 R. H. Wilenski 31 The French romantics of the early nineteenth century made the romantic elements in his art their point of departure. 1965 41 189 The original point-of-departure vocabulary. 1993 14 Apr. b6/4 I quickly used the cookbook as a point of departure. d. society > morality > virtue > honourableness > [noun] > point of honour 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. Luke xiv. f. clxxxiii They make haste vnto the graue, carrying with them the spieces and swete sauours..to bestowe this same as the laste poynte of honour that euer they shoulde shewe vnto hym beeyng now dead.] 1592 G. Harvey ii. 7 What horrible slaughterdome haue bene committed, for the point of Honour, and some few Courtly cerimonies? 1612 E. Grimeston tr. Turquet xxvii. 971 (margin) Moderne combats and the Maximes of the point of honour at this day. 1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival i. ii. x. 52 Points of honour make them runne into the Field..in such sort, as that the greatest part of the Nobility unhappily falls in Duels. 1703 tr. A. de Courtin Treat. Honour ii, in tr. A. de Courtin (rev. ed.) 233 When we say a Point of Honour, we mean a Rule, a Law, and a Maxim of Honour. 1782 W. Cowper Conversation in 220 The point of honour has been deemed of use, To teach good manners and to curb abuse. 1850 C. Merivale II. xiii. 62 To obey the call of the commonwealth was the point of honour with the Roman statesman. 1899 8 Apr. 408/2 Throwing bread to the sea-gulls, she says, ‘In gull-land they don't like bread, but it's a point of honour to catch it.’ 1940 J. F. Baddeley II. xxii. 220 This ceremonial observance is..a point of honour with the Kabardán nobility. 1992 July 52 My father..had made it a point of honor that I join him on the picket line, civil rights being nothing less than the religion of our household. e. the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [adjective] > of or like a hen > laying or about to lay 1941 14 Apr. 1/2 Point of lay pullets: 15s each. 1964 J. Portsmouth (ed. 6) iii. 44 As a pullet approaches the point of lay stage its body undergoes great changes. 1977 D. Kay v. 70 At the age of 20 weeks..the pullet becomes a point of lay bird. 1990 Ld. Hailsham (1991) xxxi. 247 Hens which we used to buy as pullets on the point of lay. f. the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > state of or advanced condition > last stage or point which permits return society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > navigation of course of aircraft > [noun] > course > check-point or way-point > limit when first of three engines fails 1941 45 306 This three-engined operation data is used to determine our so-called ‘Point of No Return’. Laymen are inevitably intrigued by this fatalistic expression. As a matter of fact it is merely a designation of that limit-point, before which any engine failure requires an immediate turn around and return to the point of departure, and beyond which such return is no longer practical. 1946 E. Hodgins x. 141 He had reached and passed the crucial mark known, in the poetic language of the air navigator, as the Point of No Return. 1958 9 Jan. 10/3 When we were on the way to the Pole we received a request from Dr. Fuchs to establish a further depôt, but we were 240 miles from the Pole, and beyond the point of no return. 1966 D. Varaday ix. 105 To my consternation I realised that I had let the matter run to the ‘point of no return’. For me to refuse to go on now would..hurt his feelings. 1977 Oct. 20/3 Scholars may well ‘have passed the point of no return’ in this matter. 1995 D. Carey & J. I. Kirkland i. iii. 46 Demanding of her own guts that she not be sucked past the point of no return. g. 1702 E. Calamy vii. 135 A Formality or Point of Order is not to be preferr'd before the saving of Mens Souls. 1782 V. 46 After some debate on the point of order, respecting the right of reply, claimed by those who had made a motion. 1858 W. M. Thackeray in Dec. 137/2 I hope the gentleman will not insist upon the point of order. 1885 XVIII. 312/1 A member may speak once only to any question, except to explain, or upon a point of order, [etc.]. 1903 G. B. Shaw iii. 75 The anarchist (rising) A point of order, Mendoza—. Mendoza (forcibly) No, by thunder: your last point of order took half an hour. 1952 X. 194/1 If a member wishes to raise a ‘point of order’, that is, to suggest that a rule of debate is being broken, he must remain seated and put on a hat to call the attention of the Speaker. 1995 17 Mar. 11/3 Tory back-benchers delayed the speaker with points of order. h. 1862 H. Marshall Let. 15 Feb. in (U.S. War Dept.) (1882) 1st Ser. VII. xvii. 884 Supplies..can be had by bringing them 50 miles in sufficient quantity to subsist 5,000 or 10,000 infantry until 1st May, for the latter, say, 12,000 bushels of corn and 5,000 bushels of wheat, and this will cost at the point of purchase, say, $15,000 or $16,000. 1911 28 Sept. 1/6 Sigmund Kann..is certain of the great benefit that will be derived from ‘boosting’ Washington as a commercial center and the logical point of purchase for Southern consumers. 1948 21 105/1 Advertising does not perform the entire selling function; it is almost always supplemented by personal sales effort and point-of-purchase displays. 1990 5 Nov. 26/1 Point-of-purchase brochures filled with facts on the use and conservation of water. 2003 7 Nov. 19/2 The focus on range..needs to be underpinned by impactful display at the point of purchase. i. the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > [noun] > standard of comparison the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > [noun] > criterion 1772 J.-N. Jouin de Sauseuil 39 Which actions and sensations were susceptible of admitting, when considered in a point of reference to each other. 1790 E. Burke 145 Referring all to the point of reference to which all should be directed, they think themselves bound..to renew the memory of their high origin and cast. View more context for this quotation 1832 1 505 A certain line first laid down as a permanent point of reference. 1885 16 Jan. 3/1 No direct geodetic measurements connected Merv with any fixed points in India, and beyond India no point of reference could be found for them nearer than the Russian surveys, which are themselves unconnected with any European system of triangulation. 1907 16 499 All of them..may find in this object an identical point of reference. 1947 M. Sherif & H. Cantril vi. 137 Ego-involving judgements in which an individual uses himself..as a central point of reference. 1991 Sept. 80/3 Motion is traced using a fixed point of reference. 2000 R. Williams (2002) Introd. 1 An image that binds people together, provides a common point of reference and a common touchstone of acceptability. j. society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] 1844 Mar. 318/2 The transfer of stocks of produce to the points of sale..are done by the operation of bona fide mercantile bills. 1901 17 Feb. ii. 13/3 The interior of the State..is given over entirely to cattle raising, and the main point of sale and shipment for this industry is the decaying town of Barrancas. 1924 14 654 The single prevailing price at the point of sale where the various buyers and sellers come together to trade. 1962 H. O. Beecheno x. 88 Point-of-sale advertising consists of using special display material in shop windows. 2002 Apr. 52 Ludmila should have been advised at the point of sale that it would be impossible to match the pattern because of the shape of the sofas. k. 1849 Sept. 253 The first boat made by Robinson Crusoe after his shipwreck was admirably adapted to his purpose, could it have been moved to its point of use. 1901 26 Dec. 9/3 The methods by which the energy of falling water is converted into the energy of the high potential electric current and transmitted to the point of use are too well known to require description here. 1967 28 July 467 Demanding industrial users install them in air and gas lines, at the point-of-use to insure purity. 1993 (new ed.) viii. 394/2 Most people are familiar with the small point-of-use instantaneous water heaters that are normally mounted above a sink. 2000 (Nexis) 14 July 12 The NHS must be free at the point of use and treatment provided solely on the basis of clinical diagnosis. l. the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun] the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > mental attitude, point of view > [noun] 1701 J. Norris I. i. 4 He [sc. Malebranch] is..the great Gallileo of the Intellectual World. He has given us the Point of View, and what ever farther Detections are made, it must be through his Telescope. 1728 E. Chambers at Point Point of View, with regard to Building, Painting, &c. is a Point at a certain Distance from a Building, or other Object, wherein the Eye has the most advantageous View, or Prospect of the same. 1793 E. Burke Remarks on Policy of Allies in (1797) 193 It is not the point of view in which we are in the habit of viewing guilt. 1809 S. T. Coleridge 11 Dec. 143 That he has seen the disputed subject in the same point of view. 1845 M. Pattison in Jan. 66 Every generation..demands that the history of its forefathers be rewritten from its own point of view. 1893 June 85/1 From the world's point of view his unpopularity was richly deserved. 1921 P. Lubbock xvii. 251 The whole intricate question of method, in the craft of fiction, I take to be governed by the question of the point of view—the question of the relation in which the narrator stands to the story. 1958 Feb. 85/2 The experimentation with dramatic forms in The Blithedale Romance is clearly a prefiguration of the point-of-view technique. Eschewing the novelist's omniscience, Hawthorne had his narrator cloud in vague terms the nature of Moodie's early crime. 1974 A. Ortiz in J. Billard 184 Everyone who hears it [sc. a song] understands a little better, from the Navajo point of view, how they feel about their life, their land. 2003 36 335 From his point of view, apart from a few juniors of little interest to Fourcroy, it was a group almost of equals. P3. With verbs. to strain a point: see strain v.1 11f. to stretch a point: see stretch v. 19. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage 1854 W. M. Thackeray I. xviii. 173 He could speedily beat all the club at Lundy's at billiards, and give points to the redoubted F. B. himself. 1883 6 333 Any average Eton boy could give points to His Holiness in the matter of Latin verses. 1895 F. E. Trollope II. i. 16 She could give points to many younger women and beat them. 1923 E. A. Powell iii. 85 Our Arab could have given points to Uncas, the hero of ‘The Last of the Mohicans’. 1981 Aug. 545/3 In freshness of tone he could give points to most tenors half his age. society > morality > rightness or justice > [verb (intransitive)] > be in the right > in a particular matter the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward for discussion [verb (intransitive)] > be successful 1908 20 Mar. 8/1 Thinks he has a point. 1947 21 Sept. I think the plaintiff has a point, Superman. But this is highly irregular. 1963 21 Feb. 350/2 What most convinced me they had a point was the line taken by the interviewer. 1993 Feb. 65/2 Feminists who argue that wearing make-up is part of a male plot could have a point, but are possibly barking up the wrong tree. 1854 J. R. Orton v. i. 77 He has his points; but, sir, you overrate him. 1897 A. Beardsley 16 Sept. (1970) 369 It was a sad moment when I tore myself from Dieppe... Paris however has points and I am forgetting my sorrow. 1915 V. Horsley in S. Paget (1919) iii. ii. 308 The Gippy himself has his points. 1934 E. O'Neill i. 24 What the devil's got into Walter lately, anyway? Getting drunk as a pastime may have its points, but as an exclusive occupation—. 1953 B. Gordon-Cumming 38 She had her points, certainly... In her occasional dreamy moods she was lovely. 1994 Oct. 62/2 World War One had its points, for the fantasists. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (intransitive)] the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > be efficacious [verb (intransitive)] 1809 J. Marshall (1839) 112 Two points have been made in this cause. 1886 3 Nov. 3/1 His evident desire to make every point that can possibly be made against the Clark lecturer. 1934 G. B. Shaw On the Rocks (new ed.) ii, in 275 Still, snobbery is a very real thing: he made a point there. 1973 8 June 640/2 The book begins with an essay..which makes the point that a work of thought is polysemous. 1991 Apr. 7/2 Peter Emina..directed a ‘radical ad’ about squatters rights which featured rats to make the point. 2004 4 Mar. (Review section) 2/4 Schwartz..makes the point that while we will accept what's ‘good enough’ in some cases, we will strive for the best in others. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > regard as important > regard as essential 1612 W. Strachey Lawes in P. Force (1844) III. 52 The Serjeant ought to know euery souldier, and to make it a point of his duty to see that they keep their lodgings cleane. 1748 S. Richardson IV. xxiv. 127 The women are enraged at both the correspondents for this; and more than ever make a point of conquering her. 1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee II. 546 I found myself very sad, and lonely,..so all my kindred made it a point to have me a visiting among them. a1806 C. J. Fox (1808) 12 The King made no point of adhering to his concessions. 1823 W. Tennant iv. iii. 121 I mak a pount to be an e'e-witness o' ilka business o' that sort. 1833 H. Martineau (ed. 3) vii. 88 Her husband made such a point of his tea that she had little hope of persuading him to give it up. 1868 E. A. Freeman II. App. 581 A former colleague of mine in the Oxford Schools always made a point of describing him as ‘William the Purchaser’. 1906 F. H. Burnett xxxiii. 330 Throughout his life he had made a point of ‘getting even’ with those who had irritatingly crossed his path. 1925 F. S. Fitzgerald vi. 131 I'd like to know who he is and what he does,..and I think I'll make a point of finding out. 1962 Y. Malkiel in F. W. Householder & S. Saporta 3 Numerous research-library catalogues make it a point to distinguish between mono-, bi-, tri-lingual and polyglot dictionaries. 1994 Third Quarter 5/1 All of the vendors make a point of saying that ‘recycled’ doesn't mean ‘cheap-looking’. a1777 S. Foote (1795) ii. i. 292 You mean the want of variety of characters; You miss the point... It is not The play, but the player. 1846 R. C. Trench xviii. 291 The difficulty..rises solely from his missing the point of the proverbial phrase. 1873 5 Apr. 6/1 The noble earl..had completely missed the point raised by the noble marquis. 1924 G. B. Shaw Pref. p. vii Socrates..was paralysed by his sense that somehow he was missing the point of the attack. 1983 S. Brust i. 23 ‘You're missing the point’, I said. 2004 (Nexis) 2 Sept. 18 Unfortunately Riley seems to have missed the point of satire. society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > obscurity > make obscure [verb (transitive)] > express vaguely or inexplicitly 1852 C. Dickens Bleak House in July 231/1 ‘Not to put too fine a point upon it—’ a favorite apology for plain-speaking with Mr. Snagsby, which he always offers with a sort of argumentative frankness. 1872 H. James in 14 Mar. 173/1 The ‘most delicate charm’ to Mr. Hawthorne was apparently simply the primal freshness and brightness of paint and varnish, and—not to put too fine a point upon it—the new gilding of the frame. 1935 C. Isherwood x. 155 He seems to have suggested, not to put too fine a point upon it, that you were an accomplice in my nefarious crimes. 1971 ‘E. Candy’ iv. 44 One of the doctor's most cherished personal finds, now happily in the City Museum, was, not to put too fine a point on it, a fake. 1995 P. McCabe (1996) 239 Not to put too fine a point on it, they were all as thick as two short planks. the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > be discourteous [verb (intransitive)] > not be affable > stand upon ceremony a1592 R. Greene (1594) sig. A4v Our countrie Margret is so coy, And standes so much vpon her honest pointes, That marriage or no market with the mayd. 1600 W. Shakespeare v. i. 118 This fellow doth not stand vpon points . View more context for this quotation 1601 B. Jonson i. ii. sig. B4v He stood vpon poynts with me too. View more context for this quotation 1629 J. Ford iii. i. 41 Be mine, and I am yours: I cannot stand on points. 1685 J. Bunyan 67 For a man here to stand thus upon his points, it is death. a1714 J. Sharp (1738) I. vii. 219 Let us not stand upon Points with God Almighty, as if so much was his, and so much was our own. 1789 Sir F. Blake i. 66 It is not for people in our situation to stand upon points: it is happy for us that the end we aim at may yet be achieved. 1812 J. B. White ii. 16 No ceremony—Do not stand on points. 1824 W. Irving I. 10 In a bachelor's house..there is no lady to stand upon squeamish points about lodging gentlemen in old holes and corners. 1886 R. C. Praed II. xvii. 289 I'm not going to stand on nice points of law. 1903 26 Mar. 4/5 I do not wish to stand on points of precedent..if it is understood that I am not creating a precedent. 1955 2 Mar. 6/6 No rigid doctrinaire attitude of standing on points of punctilio would do. 2004 (Nexis) 31 Mar. (Sports section) 39 It is all well and good to stand on points of principle—but sometimes you just have to go out and do the business. the mind > language > statement > acceptance, reception, or admission > accept, receive, or admit [verb (intransitive)] 1898 G. B. Shaw ii. 254 Do I take your point rightly, Mr McComas? 1901 G. B. Shaw Capt. Brassbound's Conversion iii, in 276 Rankin (cannily). I take your point, Leddy Ceecily. It alters the case. 1916 J. Joyce v. 219 Yes, yes: I see—said the dean quickly—I quite catch the point. 1961 C. Willock viii. 168 ‘You have absolutely nothing to go on except your sixth sense.’ ‘Point taken.’ 1976 J. Wainwright ii. 35 He nods and says, ‘Okay. Point taken.’ 1990 A. S. Byatt xii. 216 Don't get distracted. I take your point. 2001 I. Losada 17 She wrote the words on her flip chart just to make sure we all got the point. P4. In technical and scientific uses (chiefly in sense 4a). point of osculinflection: see osculinflection n. a. 1710 J. Harris II. at Helicoid Parabola The Root of which will shew the Point of Contrary Flexure. 1864 (Royal Soc.) 154 388 The water-lines of the ‘Lancefield’ are only partly trochoidal, being straight from the point of contrary flexure to the bow. 1994 196 250 It is useful to give an approximate expression for the exponent at the point of contrary flexure. b. 1668 J. Evelyn tr. R. Fréart 38 From this first point of Sight, and the consequent diminution of the three prime Figures, we likewise inferr another essential point..and this they usually call the point of Distance. 1731 W. Halfpenny 32 Whence, draw a Line to the Point of Distance: then is MU the Projection. 1770 J. Priestley v. i. 25 Divide the ground line, and lay a ruler from those divisions to the point of distance in the horizon. 1871 26 Dec. 3/3 Mr. Valda has..made the man superior to the horse by conceiving the point of distance so near that, although the horse's head is in the front line of the foreground, Sir George's rises above the line of the animal's back. c. 1692 W. Molyneux ix. 56 Draw g k directly to cross the Axis in e. I call the Point e the Virtual Focus, or Point of Divergence. 1831 D. Brewster i. 10 The point of divergence..or the radiant point, as it is called. 1889 23 220 If we look upon Volvox as a form..which lies near the point of divergence of Metaphyta from the Metazoa we shall probably assign it to nearly its true position. 1998 22 Oct. 749/2 The aim is to arrive closer and closer to the point of divergence between this lineage (the tetrapodomorphs) and that leading to the lungfishes (the dipnomorphs). d. 1882 (new ed.) Point of horse,..the spot where a vein, as of ore, is divided by a mass of rock into one or more branches. e. 1644 K. Digby i. xiii. 114 Refraction is greater or lesser..when one body reflecteth light from the same point of incidence in a shorter line and in a greater angle, then an other doth. 1704 I. Newton i. i. 3 The Perpendicular to the reflecting or refracting Surface at the Point of Incidence. 1854 L. Tomlinson tr. D. F. J. Arago 3 DO will be the direction of the reflected ray, and the point I, where it cuts the surface of the mirror, will be the point of incidence. 1993 (B.S.I.) 19/2 The plane tangent to the diffusion at the point of incidence of the beam. f. the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] > on a curve > point of inflection 1670 S. Gott vii. 174 If they be Interrupted or Offended by any other Body Refracting or Reflecting them,..they are Inflected and also pass from any such point of Inflection to another in Direct Lines. 1704 (Royal Soc.) 24 1700 An universal method..of determining the points of inflexion and retrogression. 1886 A. G. Greenhill 240 At a point of inflexion the curve crosses the tangent. 1915 29 641 There is some..ground for supposing the demand curve to be of the hyperbola type, a curve without points of inflection. 1991 C. B. Boyer & U. C. Merzbach (ed. 2) xviii. 374 Christiaan Huygens..found the maximum and minimum points and the point of inflection and was able to sketch the curve correctly. g. 1830 3 366 On one side of the point of osculation the circle passes inside, and on the other outside of the ellipse. 1913 15 24 Both axes are therefore proportional to the distance of the point of osculation from the pole. 1990 (Nexis) 14 Sept. Financing the governmental debt by a public offer makes a natural point of osculation with a stock market of privatized enterprises. h. 1983 Mar. 58 AT&T wanted as many points of presence as they could possibly get. 1990 B. Kahin (Network Working Group) (Electronic text) No. 1192. 8 Either remote institutions must pay for the leased line to the nearest network point of presence—or the network must include the leased line as part of common costs. 2000 18 May g8/1 Most big providers..lack the necessary Internet connection points, known as points of presence, to cover rural areas. i. the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] > of intersection or contact > of specific lines or curves 1674 J. T. tr. G. Harvey ii. 11 Conceiving, that the pulse is like a reciprocal swelling and falling,..there can only be inferred a point of reflection, namely, as soon as it swells up, the next moment it falls again, and as soon as it's fallen, the next minute of time it swells again. 1704 I. Newton ii. 85 If any sort of rays falling on the polite surface of any pellucid medium be reflected back, the fits of easy reflexion which they have at the point of reflexion, shall still continue to return. 1758 I. Lyons vii. §191. 142 If a curve instead of being continued beyond the ordinate is reflected from it,..that ordinate is said to pass through a point of Reflection or Cusp. 1782 (Royal Soc.) 71 475 By this method of resolution the point of reflection is found with the greatest exactness. 1860 (Royal Soc.) 149 908 We conceive the point of reflexion of the ray on the mirror of the heliostat to be the centre of a sphere. 1950 24 116 In the second type of caustic, the reflected ray can be seen to turn 3/2 times as fast as the radius to the point of reflection. 2004 (Internat. Soc. Optical Engin.) 5443 277 The perceived source of the beam is the point of reflection, providing a 120-degree field breadth at each eye. j. 1728 tr. I. Newton 173 The Refraction of a Ray by a Curve is the same, as by a Plane touching the Curve in the Point of Refraction [L. in puncto refractionis]. 1886 15 124 In every variety of ametropia the cardinal points of refraction are disturbed. 1993 (Nexis) 26 Oct. 34 Short sight is caused by a lengthening of the eyeball, resulting in a point of refraction in front of the retina. k. 1704 C. Hayes vi. 153 The use of Fluxions in Investigating the Points of contrary Flexion and Retrogression of Curves. 1972 M. Kline xxiii. 550 A cusp is also called a stationary point or point of retrogression because a point moving along the curve must come to rest before continuing its motion at a cusp. l. 1688 J. Glanvill tr. B. Le Bovier de Fontenelle 78 She [sc. Nature] will not fail to vary the Prospect of the Universe, at every different point of Sight [Fr. point de veue]. 1731 W. Halfpenny 31 The Mitering of the under side of every Square..must be drawn from the Point of Sight. 1799 J. Wood i. 45 The Point of Sight is the point E, where the spectator's eye is placed, to look at the picture. 1860 Oct. 450 The perspective..seems to be altogether faulty. There are at least half-a-dozen points of sight. 1881 24 May 5/5 The point of sight in the picture is very high, and the spectator looks down upon a long perspective of houses. 1908 J. Meier-Graefe tr. F. Simmonds & G. W. Chrystal 181 Constable..had not the extraordinary lightness of touch,..nor the boldness of the point of sight, which Corot took very far down, to make the stony mass more effective. 1985 (Nexis) 8 June 714 Delineating the tiniest flower in a wide landscape, of which, in nature, it would form, at their point of sight, but an uncertain speck of color. 2001 (Nexis) 13 26 With this ‘uncanny gaze’, she shows the subject to be decentered in relation to any originary point of sight. m. 1671 (Royal Soc.) 6 2094 If you..draw B S parallel to D A, you determine the Point of Station S. 1704 J. Harris I Points of Station, in Astronomy, are those Degrees of the Zodiack, in which a Planet seems to stand quite still, and not to move at all. 1774 M. Mackenzie 19 Draw out the Line C D, and it will cut the Circle in S, the Point of Station required. 1893 Apr. 92/2–3 (caption) Urich's perspective lineator shown applied to drawing table, with vanishing point extended to the right and point of station to the left. 1983 16 157 The sharp contrast of black and white, the careful placement of the point of station (i.e., the distance of the spectator from the nearest point of the ‘picture’). n. 1668 (Royal Soc.) 3 668 I had fastned the second paper on the left side of my point of vision. 1746 (Royal Soc.) 44 19 Now the elevator of each eye elevates the pupil to the central point of vision. 1842 G. W. Francis Visual Point, the point of vision from which an object is viewed, synonymous with the point of sight. 1892 18 Aug. 4/1 The peculiarity is emphasized when, owing to the undulations of the ground, one sees the avenue descending or rising below or above the point of vision. 1950 C. M. Breuning-Williamson tr. P. T. A. Swillens ii. §5 70 The point of vision—and therewith the level of the horizon—can be accurately determined in all the pictures. 1980 (Nexis) 1 Aug. 1/1 Not until the arrival of Cubist painting in Paris before 1914 did painters deal in more radical style with the convention of the fixed point of vision. 2003 (Nexis) 2 Aug. 24 The point of vision was changed during the painting, so that the artist's hair appears parted at the wrong angle. P5. In Astronomy (sense 4b). a. 1594 R. Ashley tr. L. le Roy i. f. 8v When hee hath passed the first point of Aries [Fr. le premier point d'Aries], the dayes become longer then the nightes, to those on the North. 1666 (Royal Soc.) 1 173 An unmovable point, which he has supposed to be the first sign of Aries.] 1765 (Royal Soc.) 54 345 Its distance from the first point of Aries..being always equal to the mean longitude of the sun. 1812 R. Woodhouse viii. 53 At the vernal equinox the first point of Aries and the Sun are on the meridian together. 1904 24 413 By setting the first point of Aries to 0 hr., the right ascension of each star could be at once read off with the ruler. 1999 9 2/1 The universal planisphere of Gemma is a projection of the celestial sphere from the first point of Aries onto the plane of the solstitial colures. b. c1475 tr. (Tripolitanus abbrev.) (1977) 346 (MED) Somyr begynneth whan the sun entreth in the first pointe of the signe of the Crabbe.] 1594 R. Ashley tr. L. le Roy i. f. 9 When the sunne commeth into the first point of Cancer [Fr. au premier point de Cancer] on the eleuenth of Iune, they haue a day of 24. howers. 1969 20 271 The only exceptional situation to which these lines point is that which occurred when Venus was at the first point of Cancer. c. 1594 T. Blundeville 293 270..is the right ascention of the first point of Capricorne. 1703 W. Alingham xv. 43 In this Position also, there is a certain Portion of the Ecliptick, equidistant from the first point of Capricorn, that never rises. 1956 46 164/1 The right ascensions are reckoned from the first point of Capricorn. d. 1594 T. Blundeville 293 180..is the right ascention of the first point of Libra. 1703 W. Alingham xvii. 48 When the Sun passes the first Point of Aries, then to those People he arises, and sets not again till he passes the first Point of Libra, which is half a Year after. 1985 25 134 When the chariot of the sun carries it along the circle of the ecliptic into the first point of Aries or the first point of Libra, the sun should be traveling above the rim of Jambudvīpa. Compounds C1. a. General attributive, objective, similative, etc. (in various senses). 1891 5 Oct. 14/4 Charles Fuller, a point cleaner in the service of the company [sc. the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway], said..he saw the prisoner and other lads on the line. 2002 (Nexis) 1 June 31 Two guns can be powered from a single source, and a built in point cleaner simplifies maintenance. 1857 C. Dickens & W. Collins in Extra Christmas No., 7 Dec. 30/2 The off-settings and point-currents of the stream. 1894 W. E. Gladstone tr. Horace iii. xix. 4 Goat-footed, point-eared Satyrs too. 1993 (Nexis) 12 Sept. ak4 Breeders mate fold-ears only to point-eared specimens. 1658 W. Sanderson 123 It was the point-end of a tuff Blade, stuck into a cross Haft. 1770 P. Luckombe 335 [He] presses a little gently upon the Tympan just over the Point-ends of each Point. 1897 M. Kingsley 330 A shallow half-moon cut out of the back [of a bowie-knife] at the point end. 1995 (Nexis) 26 Jan. F1 Lay two-thirds of a pencil (not the point end) on top of the mixture. 1901 2 323 Every closed nowhere dense point-set..of ab is so determinable by its ‘point-free’ intervals. 1944 12 Dec. 12/8 A ‘red market’ in meat-collection of ration coupons for point free cuts. 2000 (Nexis) 1 Sept. 46 You could load up the pantry with canned fruit and vegetables, point-free again. 1849 10 Nov. 62/4 We claim the mode of adjusting a style or a point holder,..shown so as to afford a ready and convenient mode of regulating the pressure of the style or point upon the surface of the chemically prepared fabric. 1897 17 Sept. 7/3 Point holder, employed by the Midland Railway Company. 1955 5 Sept. 3/2 Pull off cap [of cartridge pen], unscrew point holder, drop cartridge into barrel. 1999 (Nexis) Oct. 2 It is offering loyalty points instead of free stock and making pointholders buy shares at the initial public offering strike price. 1871 (Louisiana Bot. Survey) 96 Mulgedium accuminatum, D.D., Point-leafed blue lettuce. 1932 R. Lehmann i. 5 And there growing up the side of the house..is that kind of thick, bristling, woody, point-leafed shrub. 1845 11 Nov. 4/6 He does not once endeavour to startle, he rarely aims at what is called point-making. 1889 G. B. Shaw in 29 May 2/6 Signor Novara, who played the part with unexpected success..acting without any senseless posturing and point-making. 1902 23 May 6/5 Dialogue sure to evoke laughter when delivered by such experts in point-making. 1994 July 58/1 As he sees it the issues are too grave for easy point-making. 1814 31 Dec. 3/3 Part of the roof of St. Mary's Church was stripped, and the large vane, cardinal point marks, rod, &c. were broken off. 1897 2nd Ser. 5 402 A complete circle, with the point-mark of the compass in the middle. 1979 10 181 Although the front of the base is much smoother, several point-marks are still visible. 1887 10 June 13/1 By the use of the new detector, which interlocks the signal wires and point rods, the signalman is prevented giving a signal contrary to the direction in which his points are set. 1889 G. Findlay 75 ‘Point-rod Compensator’, which automatically compensates for the expansion or contraction from heat or cold of the rods which actuate the points. 2001 (Nexis) 27 June Railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel, the following: rack rails, switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces. 1884 W. S. B. McLaren ix. 199 There is in every card what is called the point side and the smooth side, the former being the side towards which the wires point. 2003 Re: Streetcars in Toronto in misc.transport.urban-transit (Usenet newsgroup) 20 Oct. The wheel on the point side runs on the fixed rail and the opposite wheel takes the groove. 1794 W. Felton I. xvii. 223 Set of point straps and plated buckles for main braces. 1963 E. H. Edwards xv. 111 An additional girth known as a ‘point strap’ and fixed under the point itself, which allows the girth to be fastened to this strap and..will place the girth much farther forward and help to keep it and the saddle in place. 2002 (Nexis) 17 Aug. 56 Each saddle has the facility to attach a point strap or balance strap, providing riders with many extra benefits. 1947 37 701 Margins sharply toothed: serrate, serrulate, or with numerous point-tipped teeth. 2001 (Nexis) 19 Apr. 1B Residents say they find long stretches of the point-tipped iron fences confining. b. Phonetics. Designating a consonant articulated with the point of the tongue (as t, d, l, or þ). the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by place or organ > [noun] > lingual > by parts of tongue 1867 A. M. Bell 61 The ‘shut’ consonants are sufficiently distinguished..by the four radical varieties ‘Back’, ‘Front’, ‘Point’, ‘Lip’.] 1888 H. Sweet (new ed.) §11 Point consonants admit of inversion..and protrusion. 1942 J. E. B. Gover et al. 109 Those with d are due to confusion between the point-consonants l and d. 2003 Re: Can't believe Ears in rec.music.opera (Usenet newsgroup) 12 Nov. Feeling she [sc. an opera singer] lacks the size and ‘bloom’ for that role in a huge house, and that she's dull and too inclined to vocalize rather than form clear vowels and point consonants are defensible criticisms. 1933 O. Jespersen iv. 39 Sometimes the point-element [of r] remains though without any trill. 1931 G. O. Russell xiv. 133 Point-lingual fricative consonants. 1932 8 55 The word ‘such’ refers to the vibrations of the point lingual. 1877 H. Sweet ii. 37 rh, r (point-open). 1927 J. J. Hogan 29 Point-open and stops: thedynge ‘tiding’, onther ‘under’, tanked ‘thanked’. 1934 J. J. Hogan i. i. 8 English has two Point-Opens, þ as in think, ð as in then. 1901 at L The ‘point-side’ consonant admits of considerable diversity in mode of articulation and consequently in acoustic quality. 1994 (Nexis) 17 Sept. 10 ‘Leeds’ begins with a lovely liquid point-side consonant, followed by a long smooth vowel. 1892 H. Sweet 150 Full -ed was preserved after the point-stops t, d, as in hated, wanted, wedded, wounded. 1927 H. C. Wyld (ed. 3) iii. 31 In Modern English it is probable that some speakers use Blade Stops instead of the ordinary Point Stops. 1934 J. J. Hogan i. i. 6 The English Point Stops, t, d, n. 1888 H. Sweet (new ed.) 5 þ (as in thin) [is] a point-teeth consonant. 1936 11 238 The change..is made by shifting the pressure of the tongue from the blade-alveolar ridge to point-teeth without breaking the contact. 1958 C. K. Thomas (ed. 2) xv. 140 (table) Lips. Lip-Teeth. Point-Teeth. Point-Gums. Point-Retro-flex. 1877 H. Sweet ii. 49 rhr (point-trill). 1927 J. J. Hogan 75 r. This consonant is everywhere retained [in Irish] as in M.E.... A strong point-trill is heard in the South. 1935 10 112/2 The International Phonetic Association regularly uses [r], which in narrow transcription is intended to represent only the point trill. 2004 R. Miller 97 The tongue-point trill is an extended rolled or doubled /r/, executed by short, quick fluttering of the tongue apex at the alveolar ridge.] C2. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > aspect > [adjective] > other specific aspects 1913 28 177 They say that point-action verbs..cannot assume the progressive form. 1925 G. O. Curme ii. 56 The point-action aspect calls attention, not to an act as a whole, but to only one point, either the beginning or the final point. 2002 Re: about Usage of 'Be+being+Adj.' in alt.english.usage (Usenet newsgroup) 16 Mar. There are..two varieties of what is called the ‘point- action’ aspect, the ingressive (‘It is starting to rain,’ ‘They set about repairing the damage’), and the effective (‘I have ceased sleeping with the windows open,’ ‘He has just finished reading the book’). 1634 T. Herbert 151 Larrees [sc. Persian coins] fashioned like point-aglets, and are worth ten pence. the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > deposited by water, ice, or wind > [noun] > by water the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bank > [noun] > of river > scroll 1815 J. Blackner 230 By means of an additional rack handle, the point bar is moved to and fro, to enable the workman to apply the point to this or that needle. 1836 A. Ure II. 350 Projects of bobbins, pushers, lockers, point-bars, and needles. 1945 H. N. Fisk in (U.S. Mississippi River Commission) 20 The point bar, the composite accretion within a bend, consists of an alternation of sand bar ridges, capped with thin top-stratum, and swales underlain by clay plugs. 1969 D. E. Varley 8 Thomas Frost..made a net in 1794 by means of a warp, square bobbins and point bars. 1995 A. M. Cvancara (rev. ed.) ii. 12 Lower velocity on the inside causes the laying down or deposition of sediment in arclike ridges or point bars at the point of the meander. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > household linen > bedclothes > [noun] > blanket > blanket made for or by North American Indians 1783 in E. E. Rich (1954) 152 I have enclosed instructions for your Guidance and the Standard of the point Blankets I now send you. 1855 J. H. Chambers in (1940) X. 116 We have..30 prs. 3 pt. blkts 20 Pr W 20 1 Blkt 10 blue blkt 18 Scan & 25 Hudson Bay blkts. 1962 W. Stegner ii. v. 67 The somewhat obscure source of the red point blankets that I slept under. 1995 (Air Canada) Feb. 9/1 King-size 100% wool Hudson's Bay ‘Point’ blanket, an item created in the early 1700s for trade with natives. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > types of building generally > [noun] > high building > collectively 1954 371 The London County Council's large sites..were of special interest on account of their carefully landscaped mixture of terrace houses, maisonettes, and 11-storey ‘point-blocks’. 1975 5 Sept. 988/4 The London skyline today, peppered with point blocks, tower-blocks, and slabs. 1995 55 St Paul's, Salford, a church saved from demolition in the midst of an estate of Manchester point blocks. 2005 (Nexis) 12 Mar. 14 Two identical point-block slender all-glass towers. society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > plumb-line or chalk-line 1831 T. O'Scanlan (at cited word) Iron (Point) or brass, péndulo, aplomo.] 1850 J. Greenwood 138 Point-iron or brass, a larger sort of plumb, formed conically and terminating in a point, for the more nicely adjusting anything perpendicularly to a given line. the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > types of waves > [adjective] > breaking on coast with headland society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > water sports except racing > surfing > [noun] > types or parts of wave 1966 III. vi. 8/1 The original concept was to have three separate events. A point break, reef break, and a beach break contest. 1970 (Univ. Cape Town) 1 26 A headland, point or pier, bends the wave into a point break, which gives a consistent ride in one direction, often in a perfect tubing shape, so that the surfer slides along the face of the wave with a tube of water continually breaking behind him. 1997 Mar. 55/2 There was no down the line rides and we were sailing it like a point break. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric charge, electricity > [noun] 1896 59 343 The equations are first employed to obtain the solution for a moving point-charge. 1992 23 366/1 A unit point charge located at a height z′ above a grounded dielectric slab. the world > relative properties > number > geometry > shape or figure > [noun] > two-dimensional > closed curve > circle > other 1865 14 105 The fundamental conic consists of a point-circle. 1951 W. W. Elliott & E. R. C. Miles (ed. 2) xx. 272 This circle of zero radius is sometimes called a point circle. 1991 64 162 Coolidge pointed out this duality between point-circle theorems and ray-cycle theorems. society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > traffic policeman > on point duty 1901 13 Sept. 4/4 This rule [sc. driving on the left side of the road] was habitually neglected, and this was one of the chief causes of the limited carrying capacity of the streets. It could be remedied by the existing police regulations being adhered to and insisted on by fixed-point constables, or by constables moving about on motor-cars or bicycles.] 1905 19 Aug. 8/2 A point constable is on duty twenty yards away. 1938 10 Oct. 24/3 Should point constables ignore cyclists' signals? Should constables ride unlicensed bicycles? the world > matter > physics > solid state physics > semiconductivity > [noun] > contact with surface the world > space > distance > nearness > [noun] > contiguity > contact at one point 1914 27 70 The present paper relates..to the conductivity of ‘point contacts’ when a steady, or slowly varying, E.M.F. is applied. 1945 R. K. Allan vi. 143 In roller bearings..we..have ‘line contact’ as distinct from the ‘point contact’ of ball bearings. 1947 C. F. Edwards in 35 1181/2 It seems desirable to eliminate the terms ‘crystal’ and ‘crystal detector’ and designate these devices by the term ‘point-contact rectifier’. 1970 H. J. Watson ii. 24 Crossed helical gears theoretically make point contact only which, under load sufficient to cause deflection of the contacting surfaces, becomes a line. 2004 K. Nakamura & T. Harayama ix. 166 As the point contacts are pinched off by using additional gates, the coupling becomes weaker. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > scores or points 1914 1 June 6/5 The most important decision has already been reached. That is to eliminate the American point count for spades altogether and let spades stand at their value as royals 9 points. 1936 3 Mar. 19/5 Here A had a point count of 17. 1997 5 May 21/8 It is very difficult, one must say, to remain silent with a maximum point count. the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > measurement of ionizing radiation > [noun] > instrument for counting or recording 1925 22 676 The point counter has also been studied as a unit of an electrical circuit containing capacity and resistance, and an analogy established between its discharges, and the ‘flashing’ of a neon lamp. 1938 R. W. Lawson tr. G. von Hevesy & F. A. Paneth (ed. 2) i. 18 When we are concerned with the measurement of a very small flux of radiation,..the sensitivity of the point-counter is often inadequate. 1999 July 416/2 Each particle intercepted under the crosshair is ‘measured’ and classified by means of an automatic ‘point-counter’. 1935 26 Aug. 8/4 An examination of all the hands played shows that the American pair are the superior bidding combination... Their system, which is a combination of approach bidding and point counting, seems to work with uncanny accuracy. 1973 6 Jan. 9/3 I have written on many occasions that no expert relies upon point-counting alone to value his hand. 1991 (Nexis) 12 Apr. a5 He became a serious tournament bridge player and developed his point-counting system that enabled even unsophisticated card players to enjoy the new game of contract bridge. the world > matter > chemistry > crystallography (general) > crystal (general) > crystal irregularities > [noun] > lattice defects > point defect 1955 A. 231 137 It would be rash to try to estimate from the temperature variation of the mean free path the exact shape of the defects in this case (i.e. whether they might be point defects, dislocations, mosaic boundaries, etc.). 1960 H. G. Van Beuren ii. 41 Point defects can be introduced in large numbers into solids by plastic deformation. 2001 R. W. Cahn iii. 106 In insulating crystals a point defect is apt to be associated with a local excess or deficiency of electrons. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > discharge of electricity > [adjective] the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > discharge of electricity > [noun] > point of discharge > current from 1886 R. Wormell tr. A. von Urbanitzky 49 (heading) Point discharge. 1927 A. 115 443 The important part played by the point-discharge currents in the total exchange of electricity between the earth and the atmosphere. 1973 R. H. Golde ii. 8 Point-discharge currents and the resulting space charges play an important part in the development of the lighting discharge. 1982 R. G. Barry & R. J. Chorley (ed. 4) ii. 87 One source is the slow point discharge, from objects such as buildings and trees. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > conduction to earth > [noun] > pointed object 1928 A. 118 255 Wormell..used a single point-discharger at a height of 8 metres, which is stated to be likely to produce similar effects to those from a small tree. 1965 S. C. Coroniti iii. 174 (heading) The behavior of trees as point dischargers. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > [noun] > engraver 1872 J. Ruskin Pref. 7 The four greatest point-draughtsmen hitherto known, Mantegna, Sandro Botticelli, Dürer, and Holbein. 1887 9 181 The singularity indices of a plane element of a curve of double curvature corresponding to a point element of the singularity indices x1, x2, x3, are x3, x2, x1. 1998 T. E. Lacher et al. in B. G. Savitsky & T. E. Lacher xvii. 231 In a vector database, x,y geographic coordinates are stored for every point element, for every point in a line segment where direction changes, and for a labeling point within every polygon. the world > space > [noun] > space-time continuum > event or position in 1918 A. S. Eddington ii. 15 In the four-dimensional continuum the interval δs between two point-events..is unaffected by any rotation of the axes, and is therefore invariant for all observers. 1993 27 239/2 Two segment types are evident: (a) those which are localized as point-events in an unfolding space-time versus..(b) those which cannot be localized as point-events, because they are ‘present’..without an explicit beginning or end. a1884 E. H. Knight Suppl. 699/1 Point finder, an instrument for finding the vanishing point in making perspective projections. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > emission of light, radiation > [noun] > meeting point 1908 L. Laurance xii. 329 Thus, rays in the pencil do not have a point focus, since there are two focal lines. 1966 D. G. Brandon 135 The incident intensity can be increased by using a point-focus X-ray source with the sample close to the source. 1992 S. P. Maran 602/1 As only the paraboloid has a point focus, all of the so-called shaped-reflector antennas incorporate elaborate feed antennas. society > authority > rule or government > politics > American politics > [noun] > principles or policies 1949 30 Jan. 4/4 There has been a great deal of speculation about Point Four in President Truman's Inaugural address—the ‘bold new program’ for raising world living standards. 1955 Mar. 98/2 The Point IV program of technical assistance stirred the imagination throughout the undeveloped areas of the world. 1972 27 Dec. 5/1 The Point 4 programme inaugurated technical aid to underdeveloped countries. 1990 R. Critchfield vii. 384 A whole range of policies—Truman's Point Four, the Marshall Plan, the Atlantic Pact..—molded the shape of the world in which we still live today. 1904 5 157 λ, if not constant, may be equal to any point function which yields a level surface perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces. 1975 F. W. Sears & G. L. Salinger (ed. 3) iii. 69 Work is a path function, not a point function like V , and the work in a process cannot be set equal to the difference between the values of some property of a system in the end states of a process. 2004 271 9 The computation of demagnetization factors (either volumetric, ballistic, or point function) is an old and difficult problem, with the earliest work going back to the 19th century. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > ground > specific 1801 7 May 1/4 J. Harman begs leave to introduce to his Friends and the Public the greatest Variety of elegant lace..ever offered to their choice. He can warrant his Patent Lace for durability equal to any Foreign Lace of the Point Ground. 1832 J. R. McCulloch 697 About 1777, or 1778, quite a new ground was attempted by the inhabitants of Buckingham and its neighbourhood, which quickly superseded all the others; this was the point ground, which had (as is supposed) been imported from the Netherlands. 1997 (Nexis) 31 Jan. 10 They trained them young to learn the pattern and one single bead of Buckinghamshire point ground lace takes hours of concentration and expert work. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > [noun] > types of player 1969 20 Mar. 10/3 Graduation will take both point guards. Dependable Mike Leatherwood and Richard Vasquez will leave Florida without an experienced playmaker. 2003 11 Apr. s10/3 The Nets..blew Toronto's doors off in the third, as all-star point guard Jason Kidd keyed a running game that the Raptors could only watch. society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > track > points > device for moving of 1891 27 July 12/3 When the train went up the incline the first time witness saw prisoner at the point handle. 1899 1 July 4/5 The point handles always stop half-way while being moved over. 2001 Re: Maribynong Siding in aus.rail (Usenet newsgroup) 9 Sept. Sleeper replacement is being done by P&C Excavation... All the point handles in the old Briquette yard has [sic] been destroy[ed]. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > lace 1703 G. Farquhar ii. iii. 19 'Tis Conscience I warrant that Buys her the Point-Heads, and Diamond Necklace? 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu ?Sept. (1965) I. 443 She had bought a fine point head. 1770 II. lxx. 221 A very stately figure in her mazarine and silver, with a point head which has descended from generation to the present possessor. 1770 P. Luckombe 333 His Points ought to be placed so as that when he is in his train of work, they prick the Point holes within the grasp of the hollow between his hand. 1854 T. F. Adams 236 The more the distance between the point holes, the less the liability of the registers varying by the stretching of the holes. 1979 54 386 The peculiar and idiosyncratic point-holes observed by Sir Irvine Masson in some copies of the Mainz Psalter of 1457. the world > space > [noun] > space-time continuum > event or position in 1918 W. P. Montague in (Columbia Univ. Dept. Philos.) I. 246 A moving body, besides involving a series of point-instant correlations, involves equally a series of beside-succession correlations.] 1920 S. Alexander I. 58 It is assumed that at each point-instant (the name is due to Mr. Lorentz, Ortszeit) there exists some perceptible ‘substance’. 1973 C. R. S. Harris vii. 407 Galen appears to analyse our perception of a moving body into a succession of point-instants. 2001 92 248/1 They then become incorporated in the concept of Leibniz's ‘monadology’, which perceives the world as consisting of unextended atomic point-instants. 1831 T. O'Scanlan (at cited word) Iron (Point) or brass, péndulo, aplomo.] 1850 J. Greenwood 138 Point-iron or brass, a larger sort of plumb, formed conically and terminating in a point, for the more nicely adjusting anything perpendicularly to a given line. 1602 in J. Stuart (1848) II. 229 The said schip sall ly on the poyntlaw within the herbrie. society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > track > points > device for moving of 1851 18 Sept. 4/3 By accident, he might have let go his hold of the point lever, the points would thereupon fly back to their original and regular position, and then the tender would pass to the siding, and the catastrophe would follow as of course. 1899 7 Oct. 8/1 In Edinburgh Station the lines are worked from 565 signal and point levers. 1978 G. M. Kichenside & A. Williams (ed. 4) i. 6 The grouping of signal and point levers together in one frame was first seen in the mid-1850s. 2003 Re: OT Trams in rec.arts.tv.uk.coronation-st (Usenet newsgroup) 21 Nov. London Transport used to have pointsmen stationed on the pavement..to change point levers at busy locations. the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [noun] > pressure > load > specific 1937 C. A. Hogentogler ix. 193 Each square has an area of 100 sq. ft., and the total load in each is 600,000 lb. This is considered as a point load acting at the middle of each square. 1991 3 Oct. 68/3 (advt.) Timber Design to BS5268... Simply supported rectangular beam with UDL & point loads. the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > [noun] > atomic mass > concentrated mass 1900 21 Sept. 430/1 The planets being treated as point-masses, each subject to the gravitational attraction of the other bodies. 1955 W. Heisenberg in W. Pauli 17 For Bohm, the particles are ‘objectively real’ structures, like the point masses of classical mechanics. 1989 J. Silk (rev. ed.) vi. 119 Superstrings, being singularity-free, unlike point masses, provide the basis for a radical new theory of quantum gravity. the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > [noun] > changes or actions of genes or chromosomes > mutation 1921 55 640 Some change occurred that involved..two factors in linked loci some distance apart. This change was probably not factor (point) mutation. 1977 Dec. 94/3 Such mutants of influenza virus are considered to be ‘point mutations’ that might affect only one of the nucleotide building blocks of the RNA. 2002 Feb. 24/2 Using molecular biology tools, they introduced point mutations into the DNA coding for human GABA-A receptor and then inserted this modified version into a Xenopus (frog) egg. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1829 S. Glover I. 243 The point-net machine. 1865 F. B. Palliser xxxvi. 418 In 1777, Else and Harvey introduced at Nottingham the ‘pin’ or point net machine, so named because made on sharp pins or points. 1953 M. Powys xi. 196 In working point net ground the pin is not enclosed, but after it is placed, two extra twists are given to the pairs which have formed the half stitch. 1995 D. Valenze vi. 121 A new form of lace making began with the advent of Thomas Taylor's point-net machine in the 1770s. 1860 A. Cayley in (Royal Soc.) 149 63 [The] equation..represents..a system of m points, or point-system of the order m... When m = 1 we have of course a single point, when m = 2 we have a quadric or point-pair, when m = 3 a cubic or point-triplet, and so on. 1934 56 375 A plane of the first species corresponds in π to a linear system of hyperplane hyperquadrics consisting of every point pair on a line. 1995 43 689/2 Off-diagonal entries reflect covariances that decrease with the distance between the point pairs. society > communication > representation > a plastic or graphic representation > graphic representation > drawing plans or diagrams > [noun] > drawing materials 1761 J. Collyer v. 264 The apprentice has to learn..to mark a clock, or point on a sheet of point-paper. 1856 15 Nov. 78/2 Every colored square on the point paper being represented by the corresponding square on one or other of the blocks. 1899 J. W. Mackail II. xiii. 44 ‘Point-paper’—paper, that is, divided into minute spaces, each representing a single knot of the carpet. 1987 (Nexis) 17 Sept. t20 During her research, Tripp managed to find original ‘point papers’ (watercolor renderings of carpet patterns) dating from the early 1800s. 1917 D. H. Parker viii. 164 To every point-particle in the material spatial order constructed by the scientist there corresponds..a controlling force in the environment. 2004 K. Nakamura & T. Harayama i. 7 Here we assume the idealized situation: a billiard ball is taken as a point particle and the friction between the ball and billiard table is ignored. 1977 (Nexis) 1 Aug. 21 Simmering within his own Administration was a women's revolt against his opposition to federally subsidized abortions for the poor... Its point person..convened what was to have been a private gripe session of 40 Administration women. 1990 June 72/2 Also at the conference was Princess Marusya Chavchavadze, who normally works incognito in Manhattan as Andrew Stein's point person on education. 2003 3 Apr. 27/2 Ask your venue's point person what photographers he or she works with on a regular basis. 1808 E. Sleath II. 34 She is as vain of the..breadth and texture of her point-pinners as of her coronet. society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > parts of printers or presses > [noun] > tympan > point > plate carrying 1683 J. Moxon II. 71 A round Pin filed with a Male-Screw upon it, to..hold the Point-Plate fast in its Place. 1770 P. Luckombe 321 The Points are made of iron plates, about the thickness of a halfpenny. 1907 at Point sb.1 Point-screw (Printing), the screw by which the point-plate is fastened down. society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > traffic policeman > on point duty 1891 29 Aug. 10/3 Strange to say there is a fixed point policeman not more than 100 yards from the house.] 1895 2 Dec. 7/1 One o'clock in the morning, at which hour the ‘point’ policeman outside the house goes off duty. 1939 H. Hodge 236 People don't realise how dangerous it is for a point-policeman. 1998 (Nexis) 31 Dec. 21 My Uncle Bill Findlay was a ‘point policeman’ well-known to Newcastle citizens from his work on Neville Street. 1942 24 118/2 The rate at which the consumer can substitute one point-rationed good for another depends on the relative point prices of the goods. 1944 15 Feb. 2/2 The increase has been due to higher expenditure on unrationed or ‘point’ rationed foods. 1945 7 67 There is also some price control with regard to the point-rationed goods. 1941 51 208 Point-rationing in the case of coal did not prove successful. 1959 XI. 533/1 Under point rationing, the group may be extended to cover a combination of several different kinds of article. 2005 (Nexis) 27 Feb. a1 When the U.S. was in the midst of World War II and food rationing had just begun, a Safeway advertisement explained point rationing and suggestions for working within the system. the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [noun] > resistance > other specific resistance 1941 D. P. Krynine viii. 226 Moisture under a static load is being squeezed out gradually and the point resistance is smaller than under a dynamic load. 1972 L. Zeevaert v. 278 The lower part of the piles will work under ultimate point resistance and positive friction. 2000 (Nexis) 1 Jan. 76 This cross section is based..on the results of geophysical borehole logs (calliper, spontaneous potential, point resistance, natural gamma ray, and resistivity measurements). 1897 13 Nov. 6/2 In 1875, when the correct system of point scoring was not in vogue, Harvard defeated Yale..by 4 goals and two touchdowns to nothing. 1929 2 487 Is it possible to reduce this variability [in teachers' marking habits]..by some plan of objective point-scoring? 1934 2 44 I hope that I shall not be accused of argumentative point scoring if I venture to recall the fact that the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was..more than willing to write unemployment insurance on a commercial basis. 1976 I. R. Christie & B. W. Labaree vii. 145 As a contribution to solving the imperial problem this was a worthless exercise, and such a piece of petty point-scoring reaped its just reward in an opposition defeat by 199 to 79. 1997 Spring 6/1 We are about to experience weeks of relentless, negative and tedious political point-scoring on the issues of tax, the NHS and crime. 2005 (Nexis) 1 Aug. 14 We don't need another political gabfest or point-scoring exercise. What we need is a national summit that seeks broad-ranging and creative input. society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > parts of printers or presses > [noun] > tympan > point > plate carrying > screw of 1683 J. Moxon II. 55 In the middle of each long Rail of the Tympan, is..an Hole..for the square Shanks of the Point-Screws to fit into. 1770 P. Luckombe 321 At the other end of the plate is filed a long square notch..to receive the square shank of the Point Screws. 1854 T. F. Adams 231 The point-screws and duck-bill are then put on, which prevent the skin from starting. 1940 658/1 Point screws (Print.), screws for fastening machine points..on the feedboard of a printing machine. 2005 www.niulib.niu.edu 5 Sept. (O.E.D. Archive) The puller..lifts the frisket and loads paper into the tympan. Points, locked with point screws, prick through the sheet and hold it in place. 1684 No. 1911/4 Mantua's, Petticoats, Point shapes, etc. 1730 J. Mottley iv. i. 48 When I was first marry'd I went to Court in Point Shape, that cost Sir Lawrence two hundred Pounds. 1947 17 Apr. 38/1 Prior to yesterday's frolic in the mud, Jet Pilot [sc. a racehorse]had been quoted at 20 to 1... He did some point-shaving in the afternoon. 1951 29 Apr. 46/1 The point-shaving tactics were carried to extremes and City College lost by 68 to 61. The pay-off for this game was $3,500. 1977 (Nexis) 29 Oct. d1 Police said their investigation showed no point-shaving. The team's star running back admitted to taking a trip to Las Vegas with a Kentucky fan whom police identified as a well-known local gambler. 1985 N. Pileggi 9 The Organized Crime Strike Force wanted to know about the Boston College basketball players he had bribed in a point-shaving scheme. 2000 16 Oct. 20/2 Legal sports betting on college games is a widely recognized source of many problems, including game rigging and point shaving. society > leisure > dancing > ballet > [noun] > shoes the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > shoe > [noun] > types of > with specific shaped toes 1910 30 Nov. (advt.) Women's Juliets, Prince Albert and fancy point Shoes, plus, fur and ribbon trimmed in the newest colors. c1945 J. Cranko in J. Percival (1983) 40 Her [sc. a dancer's] ankles are too weak for point shoes, so she's doing it in high heels. 1970 R. Lowell 150 My coat limp chestnut-colored suede Cut to match my point shoes that hurt my toes. 2003 (Nexis) 26 Oct. 1M Skinny girls wearing tutus jumping up and down on point shoes. the world > food and drink > hunting > shooting > [noun] > other types of shooting 1857 E. J. Lewis (new ed.) 297 If..the ducks are flying briskly, there is not a more delightful way to enjoy one's self than in point-shooting. 1874 J. W. Long 71 For point-shooting, shooting from a blind on shore, or in the edge of the willows from a boat, a few hints may be welcome. 1876 Sept. 90 We prepared to move out into the clear water onto a log, and there get some point shooting. 1923 A. C. Bent 199 One of the oldest and most sportsmanlike methods of shooting ducks on Chesapeake Bay is known as point shooting. The sportsman lies concealed in a blind..and waits for passing flocks to come near enough for a shot. society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [noun] > range of gun or shot > point-blank range 1747 Nov. 521/1 She engaged within point musket shot, every ship of the enemy from rear to van. 1914 18 Oct. 5/5 The lines will be closer together than formerly and the type will be of ten-point size—one point smaller than in past years.] 1916 5 July 24/1 Printed labels show location of all characters of every font, and with greater ease. A different color is used for each point size. 1973 S. Jennett (ed. 5) ii. 41 These two lines appear to be set in two quite different sizes of type, yet they are both in the same point size and a dozen lines of either would occupy exactly the same depth of space. 2002 P. Baines & A. Haslam v. 109/1 Point size refers not to the appearing size of the type but to the ‘body’ on which it is made. the world > matter > physics > energy or power of doing work > [noun] > source of energy or power > of negligible dimensions the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > emission of light, radiation > [noun] > point from which rays proceed 1894 (Royal Soc.) A. 184 738 Consider now a fixed point-source in a uniformly moving medium. 1949 W. E. Siri xiii. 375 The angular distribution of beta particles from a point source of small mass is isotopic. 1971 I. G. Gass et al. xiii. 178 Contrast this with a deep ocean floor, lacking in relief, and far from any strong point-sources of debris. 1992 S. P. Maran 748/1 Type II OH/IR objects are strong maser sources with the 1612-MHz satellite line of OH amplified, and are associated with infrared point sources. 2001 Oct. 88/1 In the Severn, ravines feed the creeks much more than point sources (sewage treatment plants and factories, for example). the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [noun] > sphericity or globularity > sphere > point regarded as 1866 W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox (new ed.) II. 946/1 A point-circle has thus the equation x2 + y2 = 0, and a point-sphere the equation x2 + y2 + z2 = 0. 1989 311 118 Those Lie sphere transformations which preserve that part of the Lie quadric corresponding to point-spheres. society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > [noun] > gaining points > score > winning margin > forecast of winning margin 1941 18 Mar. 7/7 In measuring the point ‘spread’ between offense and defense, Martins Ferry with 17.2 points is only a fraction behind Springfield township. 1951 18 Jan. 1/1 Poppe is also alleged to have confessed that he and Byrnes agreed for a fee to do all they could to exceed the point spread in their team's victories. 1960 12 Oct. 50/7 Point-spread betting, the kind most likely to be involved in attempts to fix matches. 2001 20 Jan. 37/1 The line—also known as the point spread—indicates to bettors which team is favored to win, and by how many points. 1958 R. C. Jones in 48 935/1 We define the point spread function C(r) to be the densitance distribution produced by an ideal point light-image. 1974 V. B. Mountcastle et al. (ed. 13) I. xiv. 455/2 When the pupil of the eye is small, the spread of the focused image of a point, the so-called point-spread function, is entirely that given by diffraction theory. 2002 E. M. Schlegel i. 7 The size of the point-spread function..proved that Chandra focused X rays more sharply than had any previous X-ray telescope. 1853 (Royal Soc.) 143 495 The theory relates in this case to the relative positions of these two ‘Kenothemes’ or point systems. 1888 12 Oct. If the ‘point’ system is retained, a pointsman ought to be kept on duty throughout the night. 1931 A. Esdaile iv. 131 Simon Pierre Fournier,..best known by..being the first author of the Continental point-system of measuring types. 1941 26 Apr. 430/1 The ‘point system’ is based on the allocation of so many points per head and if you squander them on caviare instead of on corned beef, it is just too bad for you. 1953 R. J. C. Atkinson ii. 50 The point system, a fairly close grid of pegs is laid out to divide the site into squares. On one side of each peg a small pit is dug. 1994 7 Nov. 23/1 Changing the structure of the point system currently used to rate prospective immigrants in the ‘independent’ category. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > fastenings > lace, cord, or string > tag of 1649 W. Davenant ii. i Her Fingers I think they are smaller than thy point tags. 1799 P. A. Nemnich (Italian) Puntali d'aghetto, point tags. 1907 at Point sb.1 Point-tagger, a maker of point-tags. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > makers of other articles > [noun] > of part of finished article > of other specific parts a1652 R. Brome New Acad. ii. i. 23 in (1659) Thought'st ha' me like the hair-brain'd Point-tagger. 1680 J. Moxon I. xii. 217 If a Flat be to be laid in the Board, you must first use the Triangular Point Tool, and with it strike so many Threds as the breadth of the Flat requires. 1875 E. H. Knight III. 1759/1 Point-tool (Turning), one ground off to a sharp point at the midwidth of the end of the blade. 1998 J. D. Clark in M. D. Petraglia & R. Korisettar xiv. 444 The term used in China to describe these heavy-duty tools is ‘point tool’... They are usually elongate, pointed tools worked at the point and down most of both side edges. 1858 A. Cayley II. 563 [The] equation..represents..a system of m points, or point-system of the order m... When m = 1 we have of course a single point, when m = 2 we have a quadric or point-pair, when m = 3 a cubic or point-triplet, and so on. 1953 26 185 What we really have here is a Poisson distribution of point pairs. More generally one can construct examples with point triplets, quadruplets,..or any combinations of these. 2002 (Nexis) 1 Mar. 52 You can use any normal AutoCAD method, such as typing in a point triplet, or you can use object snaps. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > valet 1594 T. Nashe sig. A4 This fore-mentioned catalogue of the point trussers. 1602 iii. iii Let me be a point-trusser while I liue if he vnderstands any tongue but English. 1602 B. Jonson iii. iv. sig. F2 What wilt thou giue me a weeke, for my brace of Beagles, here, my little Point-trussers? society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] > values in specific terms 1939 61 378 The single-valued continuous function defined everywhere in E with point-values in P which maps each point into the initial point of its orbit. 1946 61 443 Prestige value, cash value, point value. 1959 XI. 533/1 In the case of foodstuffs, the point value may be related to calorie value. 2002 19 Aug. 35/1 Romer assigns point values to having the ball at specific yardages. C3. Compounds with points. 1969 16 Dec. 18 As Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool each had the same number of points, their positions were decided by points difference. 1993 May 49/1 Both matches will have added bite due to the fact that points difference could decide which side wins promotion. 2014 G. Thomas & M. Calvin v. 79 We avoided finishing bottom of the Six Nations table only on points difference. the world > food and drink > food > supply of food or provisions > rations > [noun] > rationed food 1941 6 Nov. 2/5 Holders of ration cards R.B.8 will have a coupon marked ‘X’ available for points foods on their cards in future. 1948 8 Mar. 795 [He] has been given a licence to sell points foods. 1994 (Nexis) June 28 The Ministry of Food attempted to match the amount of ‘points food’ released with the number of points issued, not always with complete success. society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > track > points > device for moving of 1931 28 Mar. 9/3 I noticed there were no signal levers pulled over. The points levers were. 2005 (Nexis) 25 Jan. 8 The [signal] box..is complete with original points levers and a Welsh slate roof. 1941 12 Nov. 6/4 The public are urged not to rush to the shops on Monday morning when canned meat, fish, and beans become available under the new points rationing scheme. 1950 20 May 4/1 The ending..of the points rationing system, which has been in operation for more than eight years, was announced by the Minister of Food yesterday. 1997 K. Tribe ii. 27 In the Ministry of Food..there were difficulties about the individual rationing of the many miscellaneous foodstuffs which could be made available. Yet a solution in the introduction of ‘points rationing’ was regarded with great suspicion. 1911 9 May 13/1 He would provide a team of three men to test the ability of the different boys on a points system based on respective ages. 1928 12 Mar. 4/7 The Championship [billiards] matches..will be played on the points system, the points for each session being 666. 1944 40 The points system was securing an equitable distribution of non-perishable foodstuffs. 1974 23 Jan. 9/3 Council houses are allocated on a points system. 1998 7 May 20/2 The transplant priority list is decided by a points system. society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] > values in specific terms 1936 17 Dec. 10/3 The points value of a [musical] work will depend both on the directors' estimate of its quality and the length of time it takes to play. 1947 22 June 1/3 More ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ in the points values of food come into force today. 2001 (Nexis) 15 Sept. E3 Regular foods are assigned points values based on fat content, fibre and calories. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > points decision or win 1918 26 Mar. 12 Gibbons wins on Points... Mike Gibbons..won a ‘points’ victory in eight rounds here last night over Leo Houck. 1929 7 Nov. 13/2 Jackson's points victory was about the most easily gained of the night. 1992 8 Apr. 35 Since his last dismal points victory..Lewis has dismissed his trainer. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > points decision or win 1935 18 Mar. 7/2 The second meeting, in Paris, ended in a points win for Humery. 1976 12 Feb. 30/3 Theoretically this bout should have provided at least a points-win decision in favour of Harold Melvin's The Blue Notes. 1992 11 Sept. 3/3 In Limoges in March 1989, the Frenchman pounded out a points win over the clever but erratic Venezuelan. Derivatives 1675 R. Southwell Disc. conc. Water in T. Birch (1757) III. 211 All the waters falling on the whole must vent at some point-like place. 1874 R. Brown iii. xi. 496 The brownish punctiform or point-like hilum of grasses has been called a spilus by Richard. 1909 47 428 Leaves..all obscurely papillose, with a minute seta from the centre of the papilla, and closely covered with microscopic pointlike hairs barbed at the summit. 1989 B. Alberts et al. (ed. 2) xvi. 945 The essence of a neuron is that it is not pointlike but enormously extended, with a long axon and dendrites connecting it to other cells. 2002 19 Dec. 69/1 The basic objects that furnish our universe are not pointlike particles, but two-dimensional strings and still higher-dimensional branes. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † pointn.2Origin: Apparently formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: point v.2 Etymology: Apparently < point v.2 Obsolete. rare. society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > induction > [noun] > instance of ?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 250 Ȝif þei [sc. poor priests] schullen haue only heiȝe sacramentis or poyntis of þe heiȝe prelatis, comynly þei schulle bie hem wiþ pore mennus goodis, wiþ hook or wiþ crok. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online December 2021). pointn.3 Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French point. Etymology: < French point point n.1, in various spec. compounds, and in fact showing a number of separate borrowings of French compounds, such as point de France (1675 or earlier), point d'Espagne (1680 or earlier), point d'Angleterre (1684), point de minute (1868), point de reprise (not dated in dictionaries of French). However, not all of the other compounds illustrated below are in fact found in French dictionaries or corpora, and it is conceivable that some may have been formed within English from French elements (see especially point de Sorrento n. at sense 2g). Compare point coupé n., point d'esprit n. Used in the names of various kinds of lace or needlework (cf. point n.1 17). 1. Denoting lace named after the (actual, supposed, or original) place of manufacture. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1668 C. Sedley i. ii. 6 Whether her hankerchief be Point de Venie or Rome. a1684 J. Evelyn anno 1645 (1955) II. 448 Broad but flat tassels of curious Point de Venize. 1859 J. E. Cooke xxi. 122 The head-dress was of point de Venise, my hair looped up with the pearls mamma presented me at Christmas. 1922 M. Allen in B. C. Williams 45 She had..yards upon yards of point de Venise in her top bureau-drawer. 1994 (Nexis) 20 Nov. 17 A..table-cloth patterned with minuet-dancing couples and embellished with both point de Venise and filet lace. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1676 G. Etherege iii. ii. 42 Sir Fop. I never saw any thing prettier than this high Work on your Point D'espaigne. Emil. 1747 R. Campbell xxx. 151 The French Point de Espagn beats all our Performances in that Way. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward 394/2 Plaited laces also received the name of Point d'Espagne. 1989 (Nexis) 24 Sept. 36 a Point d'Espagne referred to lace made with gold or silver thread. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1774 P. Proctor et al. III. at Point All kinds of laces wrought with the needle; such are the point de Venice, point de France, point de Genoa, &c. 1865 F. B. Palliser ix. 143 The point de France supplanted that of Venice; but its price confined its use to the rich. 1975 522/1 It was not until Colbert under Louis XIV set up his state factory at Lonray near Alençon and Argentan that French Needlepoint lace under the general name of point de France established its reputation. 2000 (Nexis) 2 Sept. 3 Present them with a foot-square scrap of highly decorated Point de France, and they happily write a check for $200. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1840 16 June 8/1 (advt.) Mechlin, Valenciennes, and point de Paris laces and flouncings. 1895 Spring & Summer 78/1 Point de Paris Ivory Lace. 1994 (Nexis) 16 Oct. 48 My sister's schoolbooks had blue linen covers, very nice to the touch, with red stitching, point de Paris. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1842 Sept. 156 Down the front of the dress is a zigzag of point d'Alencon. 1880 Oct. 661/1 The point d'Alençon, which till 1790 was called point de France, was fabricated by eighteen different work-women. 1994 E. L. Doctorow 24 My handkerchief is point d'Alençon. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1842 24 Dec. 525/1 The berthe had a double row of point d'Argentan. 1953 M. Powys iv. 14 Point d'Argentan... This lace is generally known from the Point d'Alençon by the ground, the Brides Bouclées, a hexagonal ground with buttonhole stitches on each of the six sides. 1976 9 Jan. 4/3 The lace also went well. A fine point d'Argentan dressing-table flounce of about 1730..made £240. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > pillow or bobbin > types of 1833 Lady Morgan Manor Sackville ii, in I. 72 The round-eared cap, a ‘bonnet á l'enfant, point d' Angleterre’,..from the magazines of Victorine and Herbaut.] 1851 III. 559/1 Flounce of point d'Angleterre, worked in imitation of Brussels point. 1865 F. B. Palliser vii. 102 They [sc. English lace merchants] bought up the choicest laces of the Brussels market, and then smuggling them over to England, sold them under the name of Point d'Angleterre, or ‘English Point’. 2002 (Nexis) 5 May 10 e It is made of cotton with plain weave, point d'Angleterre lace, drawn work and embroidery. 2. Denoting lace or embroidery named after the style or type of stitch used. Now chiefly historical. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1851 III. 560 British point lace berthe, manufactured at Islington, being an imitation of the Brussels point à l'aiguille. 1857 7 Feb. 84 That splendid purple, that sweet Mazarine; That superb point d'aiguille, that imperial green. 1902 M. Jourdain & A. Dryden (rev. ed.) vii. 123 Brussels point à l'aiguille, point de gaze, is the most filmy and delicate of all point lace. 1933 24 June 17/4 Mrs. Hubert Norman..[carried] a point d'aiguille lace fan. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1863 Nov. 491 There are points intended to be worn either as shawls, or bridal veils, in point de Gaze, applique point de Venice, and other styles. 1999 Mar. 37/1 As fashions changed, so did lace, moving from the heavily padded and decorated Venetian Gros Point to the delicate, finely worked Point de Gaze. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1865 F. B. Palliser iii. 28 Point also means a particular kind of stitch, as point de Paris, point de neige, [etc.]. 1971 4 Nov. 1197/3 This rosaline or point de neige is the summit of virtuosity. 2002 (Nexis) 2 May B9 Kurella has an extensive collection of her own, but continues to search for the elusive point de neige, a rare lace. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1872 Nov. 611/2 Fill up the grey rows..with scarlet wool in point de reprise. 1920 C. Blum 72 The mesh is knotted and the design worked in with a regular darning stitch, or Point de Reprise. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1872 Oct. 555/1 Stars worked in point russe. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward 430/1 Take the darkest shade of wool and work the outside line of the design in Point Russe. 1902 22 Jan. 9/1 Her superb toilet was of point de Russe lace. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of 1886 Jan. 98/1 Bullion, wound, or point-de-minute stitch is formed by tightly coiling the thread around the needle. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of c1890 VIII. No. 90. 6/2 A network of button-hole stitches worked in pairs—the same stitch which by lace workers is technically termed ‘Point de Sorrento’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † pointadj.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: point n.1 Etymology: < point n.1, after point-device n. (see quot. a1637). Obsolete. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [adjective] > prepared or ready > completely ready a1637 B. Jonson Tale of Tub iii. vii. 76 in (1640) III And if the dapper Priest Be but as cunning, point in his devise, As I was in my lie. View more context for this quotation This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online September 2019). pointv.1Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: French pointer ; point n.1 Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman pointer, ponter, punter and Middle French pointer (also pointier ; French pointer ) to prick (12th cent. in Old French), to embroider (1170 in Anglo-Norman), to sharpen (13th cent. in Anglo-Norman), to punctuate (13th cent. in Anglo-Norman), to note individually (13th or 14th cent.), to stitch (a quilted material) (1380), to strike (someone or something) with the point of a weapon which has a blade (1464), to mark (the names of people absent, items in an account, etc.) with a point (1499), to indicate with the finger (15th cent. as pointier sur ), to put stitches in (a piece of material) in order to preserve its folds (1611 in Cotgrave), to aim (a firearm) (1611 in Cotgrave), to make (a needle, etc.) pointed (1611 in Cotgrave), to begin to appear (1623), to direct towards (a1630), (of a bird) to rise rapidly (1651) (see below), and partly (ii) < point n.1 French pointer is partly < point point n.1, and partly < pointe point n.1; compare Old Occitan ponchar (14th cent.; Occitan ponchar , pontar , puntar ), Catalan puntar (13th cent.), Spanish puntar (14th cent.), Portuguese pontar (14th cent.), Italian puntare (13th cent.), and also post-classical Latin punctare to punctuate (from 12th cent. in British and continental sources), to tattoo (12th cent. in a British source), to quilt (c1200, 1496 in British sources), to mark with a point (1243 in a British source), to point masonry (1275, 1466 in British sources), to sharpen, tip (14th cent. in British sources); compare also post-classical Latin punctuare punctuate v. Compare slightly earlier pointing n.1In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). In sense 1a attested earlier in post-classical Latin, but apparently not in Anglo-Norman or Middle French. See also note at pointer n. I. To add to something at points; to interpose, intersperse. 1. society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > surfacing or cladding > clad or cover [verb (transitive)] > point 1374–5 [implied in: 1374–5 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark (1886) I. 10 Item, Sclaters pro powntyng de aula, xiij so. liiij d. ob. (at pointing n.1 1)]. 1425 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 157 (MED) For all þe houses yn owr place were poynted newe as yn Tilynge at þis tyme. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 5546 In a wicket he went..Princes pointid it with pik. 1513 in J. B. Paul (1902) IV. 528 For iij dosane of lyme and vj dosane of sand to poynt the palais. 1572 in T. Wright (1869) 151 Paid for ijth horse loode of lyme to point the wales. 1614 in R. Brown (1886) I. 197 The brig be poynted in deu tyme of the year. 1694 J. Addison tr. Virgil Fourth Georgic in (1726) I. 16 Point all their chinky lodgings round with mud. 1748 B. Langley 329 Fronts of old Houses..are frequently floated down, the old decay'd Mortar raked out, and the Joints fresh pointed anew. 1793 J. Smeaton (ed. 2) §239 The joints having been carefully pointed up to the upper surface. 1861 Jan. 17/2 If there are cracks between the top of your cellar wall and the sills, get a mason to come and point them up on the inside with mortar. 1881 F. Young §1061 To repair and ‘point’ a piece of garden wall. 1926 Feb. 41/2 It is excellent for pointing up around a brick or tile fireplace. 1994 Nov. 62/2 (caption) After the mortar has set completely, the entire job is pointed. the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > break up land [verb (transitive)] > turn over > cover by turning over 1828 H. Steuart 496 Let it be pointed with the spade, to the depth of two inches only, into the original soil. 1881 E. A. Ormerod 44 Gas-lime, sown broadcast and then pointed in. 1897 16 Jan. 42/1 I do not dig the borders at all, and the surface is merely lightly pointed over. 2. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > engrave [verb (transitive)] 1662 J. Evelyn iv. 75 Which he engrav'd after a new way, of Etching it first, and then pointing it (as it were) with the Burine afterwards. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > sculpt or carve [verb (transitive)] > mark stone to guide work 1841 XXI. 142/1 The statue being rudely blocked out or pointed, the marble is in this state put into the hands of a superior workman called a carver. 1877 A. B. Edwards 423 A recent writer..is of opinion that the Egyptian sculptors did not even ‘point’ their work beforehand. 1911 A. Toft 254 The appearance of a work when pointed is not pleasing, covered all over with innumerable holes, and little mounds of marble projecting between these holes. 1947 J. C. Rich ix. 261 An indirect sculptor may personally point a work, or have his studio assistants or students do this for him. 1996 Autumn 30/2 Sculptors, who drew and modeled designs in clay, cast them in plaster, then ‘pointed’ the granite block using caliper compasses to make a proportional representation of the model. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > fit out or equip > rig > insert point of mast or spar 1860 G. S. Nares 44 The topmast is pointed through the lower cap. society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > specific processes in furriery 1909 Point,..in the fur trade, to insert (white hairs) into certain furs, as beaver, fox, or lynx. 1913 J. W. Jones iv. 100 An ordinary cheap fox dyed black, and afterwards ‘pointed’ by sewing in white hairs. 1969 R. T. Wilcox (1970) 142/1 The common red fox dyed black and pointed with silvery badger hairs to simulate silver fox. 2005 www.ftc.gov 9 Sept. (O.E.D. Archive) Certain of said fur products were misbranded in that they were falsely and deceptively labeled to show that fur contained therein was natural, when in fact such fur was pointed, bleached, dyed, tip-dyed, or otherwise artificially colored. II. To mark with or as with points, to punctuate. c1390 in F. J. Furnivall (1901) ii. 496 Eueri fote þat þou gas, Þyn Angel poynteþ hit vch a pas. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 1009 To poynte hit ȝet I pyned me parauenture. c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 207 Þe treuþis of the vij seid maters..ben pointid in þe first party of þis present book. 1565–73 T. Cooper at Diductus Diuisio in digitos diducta, a deuision poynted or noted vpon the fingers. 6. society > communication > writing > written character > punctuation > punctuate [verb (transitive)] a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) 2161 A reder that poyntith ille, A good sentence may ofte spille. (Harl. 221) 407 Poynton, or pawson, yn redynge, pauso. 1530 (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 67 They also that rede in the Couente ought..to ouerse theyr lesson before..that they may poynte yt as it oughte to be poynted. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Qviijv When sentences be euill pointed, and the sense therby depraued. 1602 J. Marston iv. sig. G4 Weele point our speech With amorous kissing, kissing commaes. 1699 R. Bentley (new ed.) 265 Neither written nor pointed right. 1734 J. Richardson & J. Richardson 56 This is all One Period and 'tis Pointed as Such in the First and Best Editions. 1760 R. Lloyd 10 Some..Point ev'ry Stop, mark ev'ry Pause so strong. 1781 S. Johnson Lyttelton in X. 14 He was employed, I know not at what price, to point the pages of Henry the Second. 1829 J. Clare c21 Dec. (1985) 491 Give each [grammarian] a sentence to point & both shall differ—point it differently. 1886 W. D. Macray in Pref. 11 I have supplied the punctuation, the MS. itself being but scantily pointed. 2000 N. Baron 178 While a legal contract might contain no punctuation, a proclamation intended to be read aloud might be amply pointed. society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > notation > notate [verb (transitive)] > point psalms 1604 (title) The Psalmes of David after the translation of the Great Bible, pointed. 1636 (title) The booke of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments, etc. of the church of England; with the psalter pointed. 1740 J. Grassineau tr. S. De Brossard 207 Saltarella,..the air hereof is generally in triple time, and the first note of every bar pointed. 1776 J. Hawkins I. 345 He dictated or pointed, and actually neumatized the musical cantus both to the antiphonary and gradual. 1864 25 July 9/4 M. Faúre..is, on the whole, the best Peter we have seen;..his delivery of the music is uniformly pointed, correct, and effective. 1887 ii. Editorial Note Selections from the Book of Psalms, and from other parts of Holy Scripture, pointed and arranged for chanting. 1966 H. Davies (1967) They even hand out prayer books in which one can ‘point’ the psalms correctly. 2001 (Nexis) 26 Apr. 17 She also pointed the text sensitively, and..traced the arching cantilena elegantly. society > communication > indication > marking > marking out > mark out [verb (transitive)] 1611 Num. xxxiv. 10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham. View more context for this quotation 1669 S. Sturmy iv. xvii. 205 I draw or point out an occult Parallel, and reckon 52 deg. 35 min. from..Lundy towards the West. society > communication > writing > written character > represent by written character [verb (transitive)] > diacritic 1613 F. Mason v. ii. 211 Because there is a full point, the very words thus pointed according to the Hebrew, Chaldee, [etc.]. 1681 H. More Pref. p. vii They did not know how to point them or vowel them. 1725 T. Lewis III. 169 Letters..suspended or turned upside down, full or defective, pointed above, or accented in an irregular Manner. 1785 D. Levi I. i. iii. 39 The first of the double letters was pointed with a quiescent sheva. 1847 J. Kirk x. 152 The men who pointed the prophet's language. 1909 Aug. 239/2 All ordinary Hebrew manuscripts are vocalised or ‘pointed’ with the sublinear vowel signs. 1990 35 196 The Babylonian tradition of pointing the Hebrew itself. the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > indicate with figures [verb (transitive)] > separate figures 1685 J. Hawkins ix. 73 If there were given the number 33016516,..after I have pointed it according to the Direction before given. 1706 W. Jones 28 Having placed the Numbers, and pointed them as the Rule Directs. 1758 B. Donne xxxvi. 235 If any Number be pointed according to the Method already shewn. 1827 O. Gregory (ed. 9) I. 130 Also, to divide by 100, is done by only pointing off two figures for decimals. 1850 J. Greenwood 37 Point off as many decimals. 1918 12 Jan. 85 If there were one or two decimal points in the original multiplicand these would have also to be pointed off to the left. 1948 R. T. Beyer tr. F. Willers i. 61 Find the square root of 5331.172. Point off in pairs, thus: '53'31'17'20. 1962 1 Feb. 220/1 All that a French trader wants to know is ‘How many francs?’ He would be happy with £0.9 in place of 18 s. His answer then would be adequately obtained by ‘pointing’ the pound in a collateral currency for use where the point helps and the metric only hinders. the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > making holes or becoming holed > make (an opening or hole) [verb (transitive)] > make an opening or hole in or into > bore, pierce, or perforate > with something sharp-pointed > prick a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) 1058 And aftirward they prikke and poynten The folk right to the bare boon. tr. Palladius (Duke Humfrey) (1896) xii. 46 So goodly by & by hit is to poynt. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) (1859) iii. viii. 55 It is hye tyme that they brenne, and poynte [other folk] no more. a1500 (King's Cambr.) 407 Poyntyn, puncto. 1570 P. Levens sig. Riv/2 To Poynt, pungere. III. To direct, or give direction. 8. society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > hint or suggest [verb (intransitive)] c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. ix. 298 (MED) ‘By seynt paul,’ quath peers þo, ‘thou poyntest neih þe treuthe, And leelly seist.’ 1533 T. More xi. f. 88 Not in the wurste thynges parcyally poynted towarde suche as be nought. 1598 R. Haydocke tr. G. P. Lomazzo ii. 10 They do..point to the rootes whence they spring, and discover the causes. 1637 P. Heylyn ii. 109 I rather shold conceive, that the word..points not to a table. 1663 B. Gerbier sig. g2 This little Manuall doth..point at the Choise of Surveyors. 1780 W. Cowper 71 Is this the rugged path, the steep ascent, That virtue points to? 1839 C. Dickens lxii. 607 The restless nights, the dreams, and why I have quailed of late;—all pointed to this. 1849 in Oct. 421/2 Mr. Ellis points to his 100,000 copies of phonetic publications..as a proof that..phoneticism is not impossible. 1885 Sir N. Lindley in 52 319/2 Criminal informations are within the mischief pointed at by sect. 2. 1886 2 Jan. 5/3 Everything pointed to the probability of a French protectorate being proclaimed over Burmah. 1933 R. C. Moore xiv. 186 The occurrence of the same species elsewhere points to equivalence in the age of the containing strata. 1949 435/2 The predominance of Ionic elements in Homeric language points to Ionia as Homer's home. 1994 15 Sept. 2/6 I pleaded not guilty but when things began to point to me I held up my hand to it. 2000 23 Sept. 7/1 Martin Raff, who works on neural stem cells at University College London points to a flood of similar results. society > communication > indication > [verb (transitive)] society > communication > indication > pointing out > point out [verb (transitive)] society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > hand gesture > [verb (transitive)] > express with fingers > point to 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1913) 121 I must nedes furnisshe this aduenture. or ellis that I be poynted with the finger a reproche. a1529 J. Skelton (?1530) sig. Civ My purpose is to spy and to poynte euery man. 1590 in R. Pitcairn (1833) I. ii. 211 Efter his out-cuminge of the kirk [he] poyntit the graues and stwid aboue thame. 1612 F. Bacon (new ed.) 221 An ancient Clearke..is an excellent finger of a Court, and doth many times point the way to the Iudge himselfe. 1695 J. Woodward 40 To detect the erroneous ways, and to point forth the true. 1726 A. Pope tr. Homer V. xxiv. 106 All..May point Achilles' tomb, and hail the mighty ghost. 1744 M. Akenside i. 602 To my compatriot youth I point the high example of thy sons. 1819 H. Busk 59* Like the rude guide post some a parson call That points the way but never stirs at all. 1877 H. James xxii. 395 Mr. Urbain opened the door for me and pointed the way out. a1933 J. A. Thomson (1934) I. x. 171 A shelter-association may readily come to have some connection with feeding, and thus point the way to parasitism. 1943 G. Greene i. v. 72 A big round clock..pointed 9.45 above the auctioneer's desk. 1975 (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) xxi. 303 This points the need for close consultation between the education authority's advisers. 2004 (National ed.) 26 Dec. v. 10/3 A traveler may..observe..signs pointing the way to..a holistic health center, a homeopath, a reflexologist, [etc.]. society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > hand gesture > [verb (intransitive)] > finger gesture > point 1485 (Caxton) xvi. sig. N6 Yonder said the damoysel & poynted with her fynger. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) iii. 866 Thai wywys..poyntyt to thaire prewa gere That betwene thaire lymys stude. 1553 T. Wilson ii. f. 78v He shewed him, (pointinge with his finger) a man with a bottell nose. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cccxliii They them selues [were] poynted at with fingers. 1613 S. Purchas 877 There (wold the father point to the child) goes a Viracochi. 1653 R. Saunders i. 11 The next is called Index, the indicative or demonstrative finger, because with it we point at any thing. 1709 R. Steele No. 44. ⁋1 I turned to the Object he pointed at. 1715 D. Defoe I. i. Introd. 6 Pointing this way, and that way. 1726 G. Shelvocke xiv. 416 I shall therefore, as I go along, point at the rocks on which we split. 1898 H. R. Haggard i. 14 She pointed through the window of the coach. 1945 A. Kober 113 She suddenly sighted the food on the table and pointed accusingly. 1966 2 May 50/4 I was constantly laughed at, pointed at and corrected. 1996 R. Doyle xxi. 136 Charlo pointed at the plate with his knife. Grand. People stuffing themselves. 2002 A. Phillips iii. iv. 197 ‘That's a nice view, isn't it?’ Todd pointed to the Chain Bridge just as its strung lights illuminated. 9. the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] > have specific aspect ?1518 sig. Di In his hande a metall bowe that poynted euer vpon the lampe for to shote it out. 1604 C. Edmondes II. vii. vii. 60 An Imprese with a circle, and a hand with a sharpe stile pointing towards the center. 1678 J. Moxon I. v. 95 The Teeth are filed to an angle, pointing towards the end of the Saw. 1719 D. Defoe 287 I could scarce know where it was, otherwise than by the Corner of the Wood pointing to the Place. 1788 C. Smith IV. iii. 55 A boat..was pointing to land just where she had been sitting. 1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve vi. 71 The churches of Europe were ordinarily built pointing to the east. 1896 T. C. Allbutt et al. I. 102 Such loops..‘point’ as it were at right angles to the denuded surface. 1935 C. J. Smith (ed. 2) v. l. 854 The axis of the solenoid must point east and west—then the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field has no effect on the iron. 1991 Oct. 163/1 The only object in my room that told me I was not in Dayton was the qibla—the arrow that points toward Mecca. the mind > will > wish or inclination > be inclined [verb (intransitive)] 1638 C. Aleyn 44 Landed, their march points towards Yorke; a place Once fit for their designes. 1750 J. Wesley III. 190 Is thine Eye..always looking unto Jesus? Dost thou point at him in whatsoever thou doest? 1761 T. Smollett et al. tr. Voltaire I. 48 The same thirst after plunder..every part of their conduct pointing towards this object. 1795 Ld. Nelson in (1845) II. 12 Our Ships endeavouring to form a junction, the Enemy pointing to separate us, but under a very easy Sail. 1866 J. Bryce (new ed.) v. 65 It was the goal towards which the policy of the Frankish kings had for many years pointed. 1959 R. Bradbury (1963) 167 My mind points north; nothing you say can head me south. 1987 26 Mar. 55/1 The pace quickened and in no time at all the hounds were over the Hill Lane and pointing for Fishing House. society > leisure > sport > training > train [verb (intransitive)] 1916 4 Nov. 12/2 The Catholics have pointed for the Army all season and are prepared, they believe, to stop the rushes of Oliphant and his co-stars. 1944 19 Oct. 21/2 The Jackets also are pointing for another bowl bid and defeats are anathema to gridsters with January 1 on their minds. 2001 (Nexis) 10 May b7 Both horses have been given long layoffs to point for fall stakes. 10. the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] c1531 G. Joye sig. Biiii There Paule as I poynted you to before bringeth in Moses. a1549 A. Borde (1870) xxxii. 205 I..poynted them to my hostage [i.e. landlord]. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 526 On mine honor, Ile point you where you shall haue such receiuing As shall become your Highnesse. View more context for this quotation 1699 J. Edwards II. xvi. 532 There being Truth in the World, Miracles undeniably point us to it. 1749 J. Cleland II. 44 Nature now pointed me strongly to more solid diversions. 1782 H. More II. 31 She points her to the palace. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Love & Duty in (new ed.) II. 87 Should it [sc. my shadow] cross thy dreams, So might it..point thee forward to a distant light. 1850 E. B. Browning tr. Æschylus Prometheus Bound (rev. ed.) in (new ed.) I. 175 Point me not to a good, To leave me straight bereaved. 1922 J. Joyce ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 377 Yes, Pious had told him of that land and Chaste had pointed him to the way. 1972 J. Philips (1973) i. ii. 16 They're simply using Lloyd to point us in the wrong direction. 1999 M. Sawyer (2000) xi. 195 Some more brown signs pointed me to Castle Howard. ?1573 L. Lloyd f. 198 v He was noted suche a glotton, and a dronkarde, that when he went in the streets euery one pointed his finger at hym. 1620 tr. G. Boccaccio viii. iv Boyes would point their fingers at him. a1704 T. Brown Satyr against Woman in (1707) I. i. 85 They point Fools Swords against each others Breast. 1706 (new ed.) To Point a Cannon, to level it against a Place. 1797 A. Radcliffe II. i. 9 Whenever she ventured to look round, the eyes of the Abbess seemed pointed upon her. 1855 A. Bain i. i. 79 These influences..seem merely to direct or point the course of the current. 1880 22 July 3/2 Lee snatched Armstrong's revolver from his hip pocket and pointed it at Armstrong. a1911 D. G. Phillips (1917) I. xvi. 283 ‘Keep on this way, lady’—he pointed his baton south—‘until you've passed four streets.’ 1974 R. L. Hill vii. 71 He pointed a finger at the two with an indignant grin. 1996 C. J. Stone vii. 107 A kid pointed a toy gun at him and said, ‘Bang, you're dead!’ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > express contempt of a1616 W. Shakespeare (1622) iv. ii. 57 To make me A fixed figure, for the time of scorne, To point his slow vnmouing fingers at. 1660 G. Mackenzie iii. 302 Lest neighbouring Nations, with the finger of scorn, Point out that Rose that chang'd is in a Thorn. 1729 I. Watts III. ii. 57 The very Finger of Scorn pointed at him in the Streets. 1783 J. Logan ii. ii. 34 Nor suffer man To point the finger, or to lift the look Of scorn against him. 1801 B. Thompson tr. F. Schiller iii. 49 Every peasant's wife may point the finger of derision at thee. a1862 H. T. Buckle (1869) III. ii. 113 It was they who pointed the finger of scorn at kings and nobles. 1939 G. B. Shaw iii. 81 You can point the finger of the whole world at the slayer of my husband and say ‘You are guilty of murder.’ a1966 ‘M. na Gopaleen’ (1968) 93 The finger of scorn is pointed at you. 1990 Nov. 76/2 I don't want to point fingers, but the facts are we're getting a bad rap on the delay. 2004 31 Aug. ii. 7/5 This, of course, leads many to point the finger at schools. d. to point the (death) bone. the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > be killed [verb (intransitive)] > by occult methods the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [verb (transitive)] > put an evil spell on > point bone at 1880 (Electronic ed.) 11 Sept. The blacks firmly believe that they can make anyone sick merely by pointing the bone at them. 1887 16 33 People who fell ill were often asked by their friends, ‘Have you not dreamed of the man who has pointed the bone at you?’ 1897 W. E. Roth xi. 156 While the death bone is being ‘pointed’, the blood of the victim passes invisibly across the intervening space to the ‘pointer’. 1904 W. B. Spencer & F. J. Gillen xiv. 458 If it were known that any one had ‘pointed the bone’, that man would at once be killed. 1939 J. Joyce i. 193 He points the deathbone and the quick are still. 2002 N. Drury 231/1 Ngathungi, technique of pointing the bone used by the Aborigines of the Lower Murray region in Australia. 1923 17 May 11/1 Nicholls' downfall was due to sheer fatalism. A Nationalist pointed the bone of defeat at him, and Sam laid down to be beaten by 80-odd votes. 1927 20 Sept. 10/4 The Trades Hall has but to ‘point the bone’ against him,..and the electors' vote will count for nothing. 1935 29 July 3/3 A packed house at Queanbeyan Stadium on Saturday night saw Gavan Doyle..‘point the bone’ at Jack Richards in the sixth round of a scheduled ten-round bout. 1967 B. Jefferis x. 184 You're asking me to point the bone at someone on no real evidence at all. 1972 A. Chipper 33 The greatest sin against the Australian spirit of mateship is to point a bone at a cobber, i.e. sneak on a friend or leave him in the lurch. 1995 6 Apr. 11/2 Walsh reckons that Keating is for the high jump at the next Election... Mind you,..it's only the third time lucky rule he's clinging to in pointing the bone at Keating. the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > action of hounds [verb (transitive)] > point the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > action of hounds [verb (intransitive)] > point or drop c1692 Ghost of K. Ch—— II in (1703) II. 318 Keep them but under, Spaniel-like, and tame, They'll be of use to point thee out thy Game. 1742 W. Somerville 257 My setter ranges in the new-shorn fields,..there he stops..And points with his instructive nose upon The trembling prey. 1776 H. Cowley ii. 15 Oh, ho! then I suppose he only pointed the game for you. 1821 J. Clare I. 94 The lurking spaniel points the prize. 1840 XVIII. 306/2 Trained to stop and point where the game lies. 1879 R. Jefferies 328 Young pointers will point birds' nests in hedges or trees. 1965 P. Wayre viii. 104 She would point a rabbit in its form without disturbing it. 1987 Spring 35/2 A pointer-retriever..should point game rather than flush it without warning. 2002 J. Cunliffe (new ed.) 150/1 (caption) Dogs are essential when out shooting as they are needed to hunt, point and retrieve. society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of wind > avail oneself of a wind [verb (intransitive)] > sail close to the wind > without making leeway 1881 Sept. 663/1 This rig..enables the yacht to point very close to the wind. 1899 (ed. 2) 4585/1 Point,..to sail close to windward: said of a yacht. 1941 H. I. Chapelle i. 37 The sailing qualities of the V-bottom hull are somewhat like those of the flat-bottom types, but with improved windward qualities if well designed. They will rarely point as high as a well-designed round-bottom boat. 1947 A. Ransome xiii. 162 ‘The Gael's castle is behind the ridge beyond it,’ said Dorothea. ‘She won't point up for our inlet,’ said John. 1954 J. J. Quill (new ed.) 146/2 A vessel points well if she sails close to the wind. 1990 T. Cunliffe v. 40 If she slows too much her leeway will increase and any apparent gain from pointing high will be nullified. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [verb (transitive)] > herd cattle 1903 A. Adams iv. 42 Priest sent Officer to the left and myself to the right to point in the leaders. 1916 ‘B. M. Bower’ xiv. 244 You're trying to point the herd then. 1947 C. Price 184 One time we were pointing a herd, Bill on one side and I on the other. IV. To make or form into a point or points. 14. the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > sharpen (a thing) [verb (transitive)] a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer (1987) ii. 1034 Were his nayles poynted nevere so sharpe. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. 5831 A pale wel y-poynt. a1475 in (1911) 34 252 (MED) He hade..A sheef of arowes..ffedered wt fyne rubyes..Paynted wt diamondes sharpe and kene. 1570 P. Levens sig. Riv/2 To Poynt a knyfe, acuere. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. iii. 19 Till the diminution Of space, had pointed him sharpe as my Needle. View more context for this quotation 1682 E. Settle v. 44 Sooty Cyclops, Who sweating at the Anvil, points the lightning, And moulds the Bolts of th'angry Thunderer. 1738 S. Johnson 168 Fate never wounds more deep the gen'rous Heart, Than when a Blockhead's Insult points the Dart. 1776 G. Semple 35 Point them or burn the Points of them in a Fire to harden them. 1813 T. Jefferson Let. 13 Aug. in (1984) 1288 If one person invents a knife convenient for pointing our pens, another cannot have a patent right for the same knife to point our pencils. 1875 E. H. Knight III. 1758/2 Pointing-machine, one for pointing rails, pickets, [etc.]. 1986 Ajneya in M. R. Anand & S. B. Rao 71 The way he twisted and pointed his moustache would have done credit to any old-fashioned Rajput warrior. 1999 24 Jan. c11 For pointing screwdrivers and putting a honed edge on knives. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > fit out or equip > ropework operations 1644 H. Mainwaring 76 They use also to undoe the Strond at the end of a Cabell... This is called pointing the Cabell. The use whereof is to keepe the Cabell from farssing, but chiefly to see that none of the end be stolne off, and cut away. 1688 R. Holme iii. iii. 165/2 Pointing the Cable, is to keep it from farsing or untwisting. 1769 W. Falconer at Pointing The ends of the strands of a cable are occasionally pointed, for the greater conveniency of splicing it to another cable. 1798 T. Truxtun Jrnl. 13 Aug. in (U.S. Office Naval Rec.) (1935) 297 Set up the Rigging and employed the People pointing Ropes, grafting the Straps of Blocks,..and at a great Variety of other necessary Matters. c1860 H. Stuart (rev. ed.) 31 How do you point and graft a rope? If it is a small rope measure five inches from the end you intend to point, then put on a good whipping, [etc.]. 1954 J. J. Quill (new ed.) 146/2 To point a rope is to taper off the strands and cover with an elaborate protection of innumerable half hitches made of small stuff. 1976 P. Kemp 294/1 The tendency of the strands of a rope to fray..is stopped..by pointing the rope. the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > seasoning > season [verb (transitive)] a1450 in T. Austin (1888) 29 Take Strawberys..do hem in a potte..lat it boyle..poynte it with Vynegre. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > fasten the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > tailor or make clothes [verb (transitive)] > other a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll.) 232 To take hede to his armoure and all his other wedis and to poynte all the paltokkys that longe to hymself. 1473 in T. Dickson (1877) I. 55 j½ elne of vellus to be Bell a paire of sleifis with cuffis, and to poynt his jaket. 1563 sig. Nnn.iv Poyntyng and payntyng them selues to be gorgeous and gay. 1598 Bp. J. Hall iv. iv. 30 Pointed on the shoulders, for the nonce. the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > state of being noteworthy or remarkable > render noteworthy [verb (transitive)] 1532 T. More i. p. lxxx The people parted them from poyntynge theyr prechynges wyth fystes. ?1560 H. Rhodes (new ed.) sig. Bi Poynt not thy tale with thy finger, vse no such toyes. a1704 T. Brown Ess. Eng. Satyr in (1707) I. i. 33 That Poet..pointed his Verses with Revenge and Wit. 1726 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer IV. xviii. 396 And now the Martial Maid, by deeper wrongs To rouze Ulysses, points the Suitors' tongues. 1727 J. Gay I. xxxix. 132 Beauty with early bloom supplies His daughter's cheeks, and points her eyes. 1749 S. Johnson 18 To point a Moral, or adorn a Tale. 1839 T. De Quincey Sketches Life & Manners in Sept. 578/1 The..circumstances..which pointed and sharpened the public feelings on that occasion. 1885 7 Jan. 4/7 Pointing his remarks by reference to art matters in this city. 1933 W. F. Harvey 39 That wink of hers, like a witty man's stutter, was her way of pointing her remarks. 1973 H. L. Nieburg iii. 55 An attempt in 1971 by the May Day Tribe..failed to close down Washington and also failed as ritual drama to point a moral lesson. 18. the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > project as sharp prominence [verb (intransitive)] 1612 M. Drayton ii. 24 Which running on, the Isle of Portland pointeth out. 1694 76 It shews like a great building of a Castle; for it points off with a Race from the other Mountains. 1703 R. Neve 271 They..are each about 4 Inches broad, and 8 Inches long, pointing out short at the narrow end, about 2 Inches. 1820 W. Cobbett Young men did not shirk about on a Sunday in ragged smock-frocks with unshaven faces..and with their toes pointing out from their shoes. 1883 July 166/1 A hill can be seen to the northeast with a curious pea-green spire pointing out of the thicket that crowns it. 1918 R. Holliday Fish Reporter in C. Morley (1921) 327 A narrow lane between two long bristling rows of wagons pointed out from the curbs. 2000 21 Sept. 41/2 The bunkers seemed like little traps..with LMG muzzles pointing out from little squarish holes between the sandbags. the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > suppuration > suppurate [verb (intransitive)] > come to head 1715 J. Delacoste tr. H. Boerhaave 93 The Whiteness, the lessening of Pain, heat, redness, tension, throbbing, fever; the top of the Tumor pointing, [etc.]. 1769 T. Tomlinson 179 This tumour became an abscess and pointing sufficiently it was opened by incision. 1876 9 177 The skin is inflamed, and shows a tendency to point. 1879 9 176 The abscess..pointed and became red. 1961 R. D. Baker ii. 16 Purulent exudates have a tendency to ramify in tissues, to form tunnels or sinuses and fistulas, to dissect along fascial planes and to ‘point’ on surfaces. 1993 29 May b3/5 As soon as the stye ‘points’, which is when a small yellowish spot forms in the center of the area, a very sharp scalpel can be used. †V. To position or be on or at a point. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > backgammon > [verb (transitive)] > actions 1680 C. Cotton (ed. 2) xxvi. 112 [Backgammon] The advantage of this Game is to be forward if possible upon safe terms, and to point his men at that rate that it should not be possible for you to pass. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > field [verb (intransitive)] > field at specific position 1862 Aug. 85 The Surrey people..selecting..a Lyttelton to bowl; a John Walker to keep; an F. Burbidge to point. Phrasal verbs With adverbs in specialized senses. to point out 1555 N. Ridley sig. C5 A wandring propre name, wherby we maye poynt out and shewe any one thing in substaunce, what thing so euer it be. 1579 T. Lodge 38 Then should the wicked bee poynted out from the good. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden i. 819 To point out precisely the very place..passeth my skill. 1678 ii. §39 I should first desire these surmisers to point out the time when, and the persons who began this design. 1745 E. Young 34 I'll point out to thee Its various Lessons; some that may surprize An Un-adept in Mysteries of Night. 1794 U. Price 38 Grandeur and beauty have been pointed out and illustrated by painting as well as picturesqueness. 1847 A. Helps I. vi. 98 He probably pointed out Horace to his sons, as a moony kind of man. 1885 18 July 76/1 He has always pointed out the necessity of rigorous observance of ascertained phonetic law. 1934 P. Allingham xiv. 175 He pointed out a Rolls-Royce which stopped at the entrance of the fair. 1980 A. Tyler (1983) vi. vi. 176 When Bonny came back from lunch with a friend, Morgan was always quick to point out the friend's faults and ulterior motives. 2003 24 Nov. 87/3 He pointed out the ruins of an old slateworks. 1658 J. Durham 81 To point out that our Lord Jesus taketh notice not only of a Church that fights, but of every particular Believer in it. 1763 C. Churchill 26 Every breast was chill'd with deep despair, Till Reason pointed out, that Pratt was there. 1859 J. S. Mill iv. 139 If one person could honestly point out to another that he thinks him at fault, without being considered unmannerly or presuming. 1897 2 Feb. 7/4 The Board of Green Cloth..pointed out that complimentary orders did not entitle the trade to the use of the Royal arms. 1928 11 May 10/7 The insurance of school fees has now become so general that it is as well to point out to parents that there is a rather large fly in the ointment. 1992 21 Dec. 22/1 An executive was quick to point out that it isn't an official consortium. Originally U.S.the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > render outstanding 1926 C. Pratt & J. Stanton 10 Others may aid by pointing up the significance of the findings. 1941 L. Trilling in D. Lodge (1972) 286 An analysis of this sort is not momentous and not exclusive of other meanings; perhaps it does no more than point up and formulate what we all have already seen. 1969 A. Cockburn in A. Cockburn & R. Blackburn 20 In a key concluding section he points up the lessons to be drawn from this record. 1993 8 Feb. b1/1 Increasingly, studies are pointing up the value of specific vitamins in helping prevent heart disease. Compounds 1983 Dec. 226/2 By using ‘point and click syntax’ in which the user points to an object with the cursor and ‘clicks’..to select it, it is possible to specify very complex types of behavior in a simple, consistent fashion. 1987 (Nexis) 23 Mar. 37 Commands aren't ‘point and click’, but are executed from the keyboard. 1995 Sept. 9/1 (advt.) It provides an easy-to-use graphical interface with simple point-and-click access to information. 2001 (Nexis) 1 May 52 Access to the Internet from anywhere in the world through a local call..through user-friendly, point-and-click software. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † pointv.2Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: appoint v. Etymology: Aphetic < appoint v. Compare Anglo-Norman pointer to prescribe, to decree (1385). Obsolete. society > authority > office > appointment to office > appoint a person to an office [verb (transitive)] society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > ordain, prescribe, or appoint > a time society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > ordain, prescribe, or appoint > a place ?1405 f. 86 Thar has grete commissaris..poynctit trewys langare..to contynw..and to tha trewis first & last takyn and poynctit [etc.]. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 184 If God..pointe and chese tho placis. 1485 in F. Drake (1736) i. iv. 120 Ther to poynt such personnes as shuld take wages. 1533 J. Heywood sig. Diii Poynt vs a day to pay hym agayne. 1598 Bp. J. Hall iv. i. 10 Go bid the banes, and poynt the bridall-day. 1625 F. Bacon (new ed.) 261 If you doe not point, any of the lower Roomes, for a Dining Place of Seruants. 1679 (Edinb. Reg. House) f. 9 To hewing of 18 karts coalles to my lords house poincted to be set down in that weeks accompt at 30 d. 1711 R. Steele No. 114. ⁋7 If..every Man would point to himself what Sum he would resolve not to exceed. 1774 2 654 These point the labour, and reward assign. 1832 C. Webbe 69 Who would murmur when th' All-seeing Points the hour that we should die? the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide or supply (a person or thing) with anything > equip or outfit J. Metham (1916) 303 Qwat yt myght be, that poyntyd was with so merwulus werkys. 1490 (1962) xiv. 47 The prouostis men, whiche was all prest and redy poyntted to the Iouste. 1523 J. Skelton sig. B2v Of dyamauntis pointed was the wall The carpettis within and tappettis of pall. c1530 A. Barclay iii. sig. Nij v Yet shal they..poynte the place, nothynge after thy wyll Other nere a preuey, a stable or a synke. the mind > will > decision > resolve or decide [verb (intransitive)] 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cvijv The counsell, so often tymes promysed and poynted vpon. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online December 2021). pointadv.the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly 1762 S. Richardson (ed. 4) II. iv. 60 All the Christian doctrines, as I have hinted, are point against it [sc. duelling]. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2018). <  n.1?c1225 n.2?c1430 n.31668adj.a1637v.11374v.2?1405adv.1762 |
