Punctilious — Punc*til ious ( y[u^]s), a. [Cf. It. puntiglioso, Sp. puntilloso.] Attentive to punctilio; very nice or exact in the forms of behavior, etiquette, or mutual intercourse; precise; exact in the smallest particulars. A punctilious observance of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
punctilious — [puŋk til′ē əs] adj. [Fr pointilleux < pointille < It puntiglio: see PUNCTILIO] 1. very careful about every detail of behavior, ceremony, etc. [a punctilious host] 2. very exact; scrupulous punctiliously adv. punctiliousness n … English World dictionary
punctilious — I adjective accurate, attentive, careful, ceremonious, conscientious, correct, diligens, dutiful, exact, exacting, faithful, fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, formal, fussy, methodical, meticulous, minutely correct, observant, observant of … Law dictionary
punctilious — 1630s, probably from It. puntiglioso, from puntiglio fine point, from L. punctum prick (see POINT (Cf. point)) … Etymology dictionary
punctilious — punctual, meticulous, scrupulous, *careful Analogous words: particular, fussy, squeamish, fastidious, *nice: formal, conventional, ceremonious, *ceremonial … New Dictionary of Synonyms
punctilious — [adj] careful, finicky ceremonious, conscientious, conscionable, conventional, exact, formal, formalistic, fussy, good eye*, heedful, meticulous, nice, observant, overconscientious, overscrupulous, painstaking, particular, persnickety, precise,… … New thesaurus
punctilious — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour. DERIVATIVES punctiliously adverb punctiliousness noun … English terms dictionary
punctilious — [[t]pʌŋktɪ̱liəs[/t]] ADJ GRADED Someone who is punctilious is very careful to behave correctly. [FORMAL] He was punctilious about being ready and waiting in the entrance hall exactly on time... He was a punctilious young man. Syn: meticulous… … English dictionary
punctilious — adjective /pʌŋkˈtɪliəs/ a) Strictly attentive to detail; meticulous or fastidious, particularly to codes or conventions. With a punctilious slap of the gloves, the duel was now inevitable. b) Precise or scrupulous; finicky or … Wiktionary
punctilious — adj. punctilious about * * * [pʌŋk tɪlɪəs] punctilious about … Combinatory dictionary
punctilious — punc|til|i|ous [pʌŋkˈtıliəs] adj formal [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: punctilio detail of good behavior (16 21 centuries), from Italian puntiglio, from Spanish puntillo, from Latin punctum; POINT1] very careful to behave correctly and follow rules… … Dictionary of contemporary English
