7. A mark of punctuation; a character used to mark the divisions of a composition, or the pauses to be
observed in reading, or to point off groups of figures, etc.; a stop, as a comma, a semicolon, and esp. a
period; hence, figuratively, an end, or conclusion.
And there a point, for ended is my tale.
Chaucer.
Commas and points they set exactly right.
Pope. 8. Whatever serves to mark progress, rank, or relative position, or to indicate a transition from one state
or position to another, degree; step; stage; hence, position or condition attained; as, a point of elevation,
or of depression; the stock fell off five points; he won by tenpoints. "A point of precedence." Selden.
"Creeping on from point to point." Tennyson.
A lord full fat and in good point.
Chaucer. 9. That which arrests attention, or indicates qualities or character; a salient feature; a characteristic; a
peculiarity; hence, a particular; an item; a detail; as, the good or bad points of a man, a horse, a book, a
story, etc.
He told him, point for point, in short and plain.
Chaucer.
In point of religion and in point of honor.
Bacon.
Shalt thou dispute
With Him the points of liberty ?
Milton. 10. Hence, the most prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.; the essential
matter; esp., the proposition to be established; as, the point of an anecdote. "Here lies the point." Shak.
They will hardly prove his point.
Arbuthnot. 11. A small matter; a trifle; a least consideration; a punctilio.
This fellow doth not stand upon points.
Shak.
[He] cared not for God or man a point.
Spenser. 12. (Mus.) A dot or mark used to designate certain tones or time; as: (a) (Anc. Mus.) A dot or mark
distinguishing or characterizing certain tones or styles; as, points of perfection, of augmentation, etc.; hence,
a note; a tune. "Sound the trumpet - - not a levant, or a flourish, but a point of war." Sir W. Scott. (b)
(Mod. Mus.) A dot placed at the right hand of a note, to raise its value, or prolong its time, by one half,
as to make a whole note equal to three half notes, a half note equal to three quarter notes.
13. (Astron.) A fixed conventional place for reference, or zero of reckoning, in the heavens, usually the
intersection of two or more great circles of the sphere, and named specifically in each case according to
the position intended; as, the equinoctial points; the solstitial points; the nodal points; vertical points, etc.
See Equinoctial Nodal.
14. (Her.) One of the several different parts of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon.
15. (Naut.) (a) One of the points of the compass (see Points of the compass, below); also, the difference
between two points of the compass; as, to fall off a point. (b) A short piece of cordage used in reefing
sails. See Reef point, under Reef.
16. (Anc. Costume) A a string or lace used to tie together certain parts of the dress. Sir W. Scott.
17. Lace wrought the needle; as, point de Venise; Brussels point. See Point lace, below.
