punctilio
- noun
- /pʌnˈtɪlioʊ/
- Formal
:
puntualidad
- Her adherence to the punctilio of formal dining etiquette impressed all the guests at the gala.
Examples
-
As suggested in the discussion of the anomalous Pinoch, the US dynamic is more legit, although the Church report might detract in punctilio from that depiction.
Blog text (7) -
No punctilio.
Fiction book (1990) -
"After the addresses and the punctilio, there is little time for fighting.
Fiction book (1993) -
"This is an insane society, constrained by punctilio as a rotten egg is held by its shell.
Fiction book (1993) -
There is little reason to think that Evans shared Agee's punctilio in regard to the Gudgers' possessions.
Academic text (2017) -
"With considerable punctilio, he then called for the garrison doctor and had him certify officially that Jamie was fit enough to be flogged.
Fiction book (1991) -
The diplomat paid attention to every punctilio during the negotiation to ensure a successful outcome.
-
In the world of high society, ignoring a punctilio can lead to social faux pas and misunderstandings.
Synonyms
47
6.5
A small detail in rules that changes the result
5
7.7
A small but important difference in meaning or detail
Antonyms
How Precise
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word punctilio comes from Italian puntiglio, from Latin punctum meaning 'point'. Think of it as a 'little point' — a very small, exact rule or detail of behavior, which is why punctilio means a tiny rule of etiquette or formal procedure.