Note: The word point is a general term, much used in the sciences, particularly in mathematics, mechanics, perspective, and physics, but generally either in the geometrical sense, or in that of degree, or condition of change, and with some accompanying descriptive or qualifying term, under which, in the vocabulary, the specific uses are explained; as, boiling point, carbon point, dry point, freezing point, melting point, vanishing point, etc. At all points, in every particular, completely; perfectly. Shak. — At point, In point, At, In, or On, the point, as near as can be; on the verge; about (see About, prep., 6); as, at the point of death; he was on the point of speaking. "In point to fall down." Chaucer. "Caius Sidius Geta, at point to have been taken, recovered himself so valiantly as brought day on his side." Milton. — Dead point. (Mach.) Same as Dead center, under Dead. — Far point (Med.), in ophthalmology, the farthest point at which objects are seen distinctly. In normal eyes the nearest point at which objects are seen distinctly; either with the two eyes together (binocular near point), or with each eye separately (monocular near point). — Nine points of the law, all but the tenth point; the greater weight of authority. — On the point. See At point, above. — Point lace, lace wrought with the needle, as distinguished from that made on the pillow. — Point net, a machine-made lace imitating a kind of Brussels lace (Brussels ground). — Point of concurrence (Geom.), a point common to two lines, but not a point of tangency or of intersection, as, for instance, that in which a cycloid meets its base. — Point of contrary flexure, a point at which a curve changes its direction of curvature, or at which its convexity and concavity change sides. — Point of order, in parliamentary practice, a question of order or propriety under the rules. — Point of sight (Persp.), in a perspective drawing, the point assumed as that occupied by the eye of the spectator. — Point of view, the relative position from which anything is seen or any subject is considered. — Points of the compass (Naut.), the thirty-two points of division of the compass card in the mariner's compass; the corresponding points by which the circle of the horizon is supposed to be divided, of which the four marking the directions of east, west, north, and south, are called cardinal points, and the rest are named from their respective directions, as N. by E., N. N. E., N. E. by N., N. E., etc. See Illust. under Compass. — Point paper, paper pricked through so as to form a stencil for transferring a design. — Point system of type. See under Type. — Singular point (Geom.), a point of a curve which possesses some property not possessed by points in general on the curve, as a cusp, a point of inflection, a node, etc. — To carry one's point, to accomplish one's object, as in a controversy. — To make a point of, to attach special importance to. — To make, or gain, a point, accomplish that which was proposed; also, to make advance by a step, grade, or position. — To mark, or score, a point, as in billiards, cricket, etc., to note down, or to make, a successful hit, run, etc. — To strain a point, to go beyond the proper limit or rule; to stretch one's authority or conscience. — Vowel point, in Hebrew, and certain other Eastern and ancient languages, a mark placed above or below the consonant, or attached to it, representing the vowel, or vocal sound, which precedes or follows the consonant.
POINT
Point, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pointing.] Etym:
[Cf. F. pointer. See Point, n.]
1. To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart, or a pencil. Used also figuratively; as, to point a moral.
2. To direct toward an abject; to aim; as, to point a gun at a wolf, or a cannon at a fort.
3. Hence, to direct the attention or notice of. Whosoever should be guided through his battles by Minerva, and pointed to every scene of them. Pope.
4. To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate; as, to point a composition.
5. To mark (as Hebrew) with vowel points.
6. To give particular prominence to; to designate in a special manner; to indicate, as if by pointing; as, the error was pointed out. Pope. He points it, however, by no deviation from his straightforward manner of speech. Dickens.
7. To indicate or discover by a fixed look, as game.
8. (Masonry)