interpunct

C2+ Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈɪntɚˌpʌŋkt/ UK /ˈɪntəˌpʌŋkt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a centered dot (·) used to separate words or mark a division

Classical Latin inscriptions often used an interpunct between words.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a centered dot (·) used to... middotinterpoint

Word family

Related forms punctuation point punctualinterpunction

Etymology

From Latin interpunctum, neuter past participle of interpungere ('to point off, separate by points'), from inter- ('between') + pungere ('to prick, point').

interpungere Latin pungere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# interpunct

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɪntɚˌpʌŋkt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɪntəˌpʌŋkt/

## Meanings
1. a centered dot (·) used to separate words or mark a division

## Examples
- Classical Latin inscriptions often used an interpunct between words.

## Synonyms
- middot
- interpoint

## Related Forms
- punctuation
- point
- punctual
- interpunction

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: interpungere
- Root: pungere

## Etymology
From Latin interpunctum, neuter past participle of interpungere ('to point off, separate by points'), from inter- ('between') + pungere ('to prick, point').

## AI Etymology
Interpunct comes from Latin interpunctum, neuter past participle of interpungere ('to point off, separate by points'), from inter- ('between') + pungere ('to prick, point'). The historical trail runs through Latin interpungere and Latin pungere. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means a centered dot (·) used to separate words or mark a division. Related forms include punctuation, point, punctual, interpunction.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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