punctilious
[puhngk-til-ee-uhs]
- extremely attentive to punctilios; strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.
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Origin of punctilious
Synonyms
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
carefullymeticulouslywarilydelicatelythoroughlylaboriouslygingerlyfaithfullydeliberatelycorrectlyfullyscrupulouslypreciselydiscreetlyrigorouslyanxiouslyconscientiouslyprudentlyattentivelystrictlyExamples from the Web for punctiliously
Contemporary Examples
Otherwise, slavish adaptations–being, punctiliously observant adaptations–are likely to be a dead doornail.
Historical Examples
They were punctiliously polite, too polite for a horse-ranch outfit.
The Treasure TrailMarah Ellis Ryan
The five shillings were most punctiliously returned from this point, which also we left soon.
My LifeJosiah Flynt
Ceremonious etiquette and detail duties were punctiliously observed.
MexicoSusan Hale
His external religious duties were most punctiliously performed.
Rose ClarkFanny Fern
Punctiliously they saluted, and Clifford strode back to the house.
Peggy Owen and LibertyLucy Foster Madison
punctilious
- paying scrupulous attention to correctness in etiquette
- attentive to detail
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for punctiliously
punctilious
adj.
1630s, probably from Italian puntiglioso, from puntiglio "fine point," from Latin punctum "prick" (see point (n.)). Related: Punctiliously; punctiliousness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper