† point-viceadj.adv.
Obsolete.
A. adj.
Perfect; exact.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > strict, rigorous
just1490
nicea1522
point-devicea1529
exact1533
narrow1551
rigorousa1564
point-vice1574
curious1614
rigid?1626
hard1690
strict1749
deadly1909
1574 R. Robinson Rewarde of Wickednesse sig. P2 With all thinges poynt vice, and fit for the nonce, Foorth came Pluto, and Proserpin the Queene.
a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) ii. l. 208 Your beard is point-vice, not a haire amisse.
a1607 T. Brightman Revelation of Revelation (1615) 48 Men..who thinke all that to be point-vice, which they read to haue been in vse in these tymes.
1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 112 To chastice his very method and phrase, if hee speake loosely, or impertinently, or but improperly, and if euery thing bee not point-vise.
1849 F. T. Dinsdale Gloss. Provincial Words Teesdale 97 Point-vice, exact, perfect. The term is applied to any one who is neat and nice in person.
1871 Notes & Queries 4th Ser. 7 255 Oh! he is a very particular man, and will have everything about his place point vice.
B. adv.
Perfectly; exactly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adverb] > strictly
strait1338
smally1340
at point devicec1390
point-devicec1425
precisely1526
to the point device1542
just1549
rigorously1561
by the square1570
curiously1573
by point device1575
in print1576
to a tittle1597
nicelya1616
to a hair's breadtha1616
point-vice1641
to a nicka1680
to a cow's thumb1681
to a tee1693
narrowly1708
scrupulously1712
to a dot1728
perjinkly1775
to a nicety1795
astringently1866
to a fit1890
1641 R. Brathwait Ladies Love-lecture in Times Treasury (1652) 440 Hee would (in regard of the rarity of the cut) be trimmed point-vice to his apparell.
a1647 T. Hooker Applic. of Redempt.: 9th & 10th Bks. (1657) x. 686 Each dispensation must answer his expectation point vice, or else it wil not down.
1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 179 Clamour against the Times, because everything is not point-vise just as we would have it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.adv.1574