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Antonyms for points


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : point
Phonetic Transcription : pɔɪnt



Definition of points

Origin :
  • c.1200, "minute amount, single item in a whole; sharp end of a sword, etc.," a merger of two words, both ultimately from Latin pungere "prick, pierce, puncture" (see pungent). The Latin neuter past participle punctum was used as a noun, meaning "small hole made by pricking," subsequently extended to anything that looked like one, hence, "dot, particle," etc. This yielded Old French point "dot; smallest amount," which was borrowed in Middle English by c.1300.
  • Meanwhile the Latin fem. past participle of pungere was puncta, which was used in Medieval Latin to mean "sharp tip," and became Old French pointe "point of a weapon, vanguard of an army," which also passed into English, early 14c.
  • The senses have merged in English, but remain distinct in French. Extended senses are from the notion of "minute, single, or separate items in an extended whole." Meaning "small mark, dot" in English is mid-14c. Meaning "distinguishing feature" is recorded from late 15c. Meaning "a unit of score in a game" is first recorded 1746. As a typeface unit (in Britain and U.S., one twelfth of a pica), it went into use in U.S. 1883. As a measure of weight for precious stones (one one-hundredth of a carat) it is recorded from 1931.
  • The point "the matter being discussed" is attested from late 14c.; meaning "sense, purpose, advantage" (usually in the negative, e.g. what's the point?) is first recorded 1903. Point of honor (1610s) translates French point d'honneur. Point of no return (1941) is originally aviators' term for the point in a flight "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."
  • noun speck
  • noun specific location
  • noun sharp end, top, end of extension
  • noun circumstance, stage; limited time
  • noun goal, aim
  • noun meaning, essence
  • noun aspect, characteristic
  • noun scoring unit of sport competition
  • verb show as probable; call attention
  • verb direct, lead
Example sentences :
  • "And copper's up two points to-day," said Percival, cheerfully.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • But these are not the only points to which you look for vigilant watchfulness.
  • Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
  • We must study our parents' opinions in the main, but not in points of detail.
  • Extract from : « Life in London » by Edwin Hodder
  • What points should be considered in the selection of desserts?
  • Extract from : « Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4 » by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
  • What, then, does this important witness have to say, which bears upon the points at issue?
  • Extract from : « The Non-Christian Cross » by John Denham Parsons
  • And he points out that within the triangle was the Svastika cross.
  • Extract from : « The Non-Christian Cross » by John Denham Parsons
  • He hated to have to explain the points of his anecdotes, as, indeed, what story-teller does not?
  • Extract from : « In the Midst of Alarms » by Robert Barr
  • But all underclays agree in two points: they are all unstratified.
  • Extract from : « Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 » by Various
  • There are points of view foreign to our way of looking at things.
  • Extract from : « Understanding the Scriptures » by Francis McConnell
  • Long before these points were settled, the challenge was given and accepted.
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth

Synonyms for points

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019