POINTEDNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pointedness mean? 

• POINTEDNESS (noun)
  The noun POINTEDNESS has 2 senses:

1. the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip

2. the quality of being obviously directed at a particular person or thing

  Familiarity information: POINTEDNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POINTEDNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

point; pointedness

Hypernyms ("pointedness" is a kind of...):

taper (the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone))

Antonym:

unpointedness (the property of having only a dull tip (if any))

Derivation:

pointed (having a point)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being obviously directed at a particular person or thing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the pointedness of his sarcasm was unmistakable

Hypernyms ("pointedness" is a kind of...):

directness; straightness (trueness of course toward a goal)

Derivation:

pointed (direct and obvious in meaning or reference; often unpleasant)

 Context examples 

To be secure of a partner at first was a most essential good—for the moment of beginning was now growing seriously near; and she so little understood her own claims as to think that if Mr. Crawford had not asked her, she must have been the last to be sought after, and should have received a partner only through a series of inquiry, and bustle, and interference, which would have been terrible; but at the same time there was a pointedness in his manner of asking her which she did not like, and she saw his eye glancing for a moment at her necklace, with a smile—she thought there was a smile—which made her blush and feel wretched.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)