punctual

punc·tu·al

/ˈpʌŋktʃuəl/ Show Spelled [puhngk-choo-uhl] Show IPA

adjective

1.

strictly observant of an appointed or regular time; not late; prompt.

2.

made, occurring, etc., at the scheduled or proper time: punctual payment.

3.

pertaining to or of the nature of a point.

4.

punctilious.

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Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English  < Medieval Latin pūnctuālis  of a point, equivalent to Latin pūnctu ( s ) a point, a pricking ( pung ( ere ) to prick + -tus  suffix of v. action) + -ālis -al¹ ; see pungent

 

World English Dictionary

punctual  (ˈpʌŋktjʊəl)
— adj
1.	arriving or taking place at an arranged time; prompt
2.	(of a person) having the characteristic of always keeping to arranged times, as for appointments, meetings, etc
3.	obsolete  precise; exact; apposite
4.	maths  consisting of or confined to a point in space
[C14: from Medieval Latin punctuālis  concerning detail, from Latin punctum  point]