Punctilious

[punk-TIL-ee-uhs]Part of speech: adjective

Origin: latin, early 17th century

Concerned with strict adherence to rules and codes of conduct
Precise or nitpicky

Examples of Punctilious in a sentence

With his punctilious nature, he was sure to do well in the Army.
She was so punctilious about organizing her pantry that every shelf had a label.

The punctilious personality of Agent Kuryakin seemed to show up in the least expected gestures, like how he knotted his tie.

About Punctilious

You might relate this word to punctual, and you’d be correct. Punctuality specifically concerns accuracy with time, but being punctilious can apply to any situation that concerns small and specific details.

Did you Know?

The adjective "punctilious" comes from the noun "punctilio," meaning a fine point or detail. Being overly concerned with specific rules and procedures will earn you the reputation of being punctilious.

Bonus Word

Hugger-mugger

[HUHG-er-MUHG-er]Part of speech: adjectiveOrigin: unknown, 16th century

Chaotic and disorganized
Conducted with a secret or clandestine nature

Examples of Hugger-mugger in a sentence

You could barely see the carpet in the hugger-mugger bedroom.
His motives were unclear, but the hugger-mugger requests were suspicious.

About Hugger-mugger

The origin of "hugger-mugger" is unknown, but there are guesses tying it to the Middle English word "mukre," meaning to hoard or conceal. It’s not an incredibly well-known word, but if you start incorporating it into your vocabulary to describe any kind of chaotic or secretive situation, it’s sure to catch on again.

Did you Know?

"Hugger-mugger" can be used as an adjective, such as the definitions given here. It can also be a noun, with similar definitions to the adjective. A situation would be a hugger-mugger, rather than being described as hugger-mugger. You can even use this rhyming word as a verb, when you are keeping something concealed.BONUS WORD