The term “point” has its origins in the Latin word “punctum,” meaning “a small spot” or “a point.” This is derived from the Latin verb “pungere,” meaning “to prick” or “to pierce.”
1. Proto-Indo-European (PIE)
The PIE root “*peuk-” means “to prick” or “to pierce.”
2. Latin
From the PIE root, the Latin verb “pungere” developed, meaning “to prick” or “to pierce.” The noun “punctum” derived from “pungere,” meaning “a small spot” or “a point.”
3. Old French (c. 9th to 14th century CE)
The Latin term “punctum” evolved into Old French “point,” retaining the meanings of “a small spot,” “a mark,” or “a point.”
4. Middle English (c. 11th to 15th century CE)
The Old French “point” was adopted into Middle English as “point,” meaning “a particular spot, place, or position in an area” or “a sharp end.”
5. Modern English (from 15th century CE to present)
The term “point” evolved into its current form and pronunciation, referring to a precise location or position, a particular detail or argument, or the sharp end of an object.
The word “point” reflects various concepts related to precision, position, and detail, fundamental to fields such as mathematics, navigation, argumentation, and everyday language.