1362. Langland, Piers Plowmans Crede [Wright], 1. 1676. But for I am a lewed man, Paraunter I myghte Passen par adventure, And in some poynt erren.
. . . . Rom. of Partenay [E.E.T.S.], 3392. Where she no point had of diffame no dais.
. . . . Palladius, Husbondrie [E.E. T.S.], 154. And over yere thai wol been IN GOODE POINTE.
1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, Prol., 136. He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt. Ibid., Man of Lawes Tale, 232. Lordes . . . ye knowen everich on, How that my sone in point is for to lete The holy lawes of our Alkaron. Ibid., Monkes Tale. He can al devyse Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille.
c. 1400. The Smyth and his Dame [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet. iii. 219]. But here a poynt I gyue the, The mayster shalt thov yet be Of all thy craft trvely.
c. 1440. Merlin [E.E.T.S.], ii. 350. Amaunt be-thought hym that he myght come neuer in better poynt to conquere his Castell. Ibid., i. 106. Thei cowde not in hym espie no poynte of covetise. Ibid., iii. 562. The thirde was Monevall, that was a noble knyght, and richely armed of alle pointes.
d. 1529. Skelton, Bowge of Courte, 246. But to the poynte shortely to procede.
1564. Udall, Apoph. Eras., 8. In matters not worth a blewe poinct . . . we will spare for no cost.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, i. But in what particular points the oracle was, in faith I know not.
1587. Harrison, Desc. of England [Oliphant, New Eng., 11. 3. Among the Romance words are . . . at point blank, &c.].
1590. Spenser, Faerie Queene, 1. ii. 12. Full large of limbe and every joint He was, and cared not for God or man A POINT.
1592. Shakspeare, Mid. Night's Dream, v. 1, 118. This fellow doth not stand upon points. Ibid. (1594), Henry VI., iv. 7. Now art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction legal. Ibid. (1596), Hamlet, i. 2. A figure like your father, Armed at point exactly, Cap-a-pe, Appears before them. Ibid. (1598), 2 Hen. IV., ii. 4. Give me some sack: and, sweetheart, lie thou there. [Laying down his sword.] Come we to full points here. Ibid. (1601), Henry VIII., i. 2. I'll hear him his confessions justify; And point by point the treasons of his master he shall again relate. Ibid. (1602). Twelfth Night, v. 1. Like to the Egyptian thief at point of death. Ibid. (1603), Measure for Measure, i. 2. No, indeed, sir . . . you are therein in the right: but to the point. Ibid. (1609), Tempest, i. 2, 194. Hast thou . . . Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee.
1611. Chapman, May-day, i. 2. I'll to the enemy point blank; I'm a villain else.
1611. Bible [Auth. Ver.], Gen. xxv. 32. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die.
1616. Jonson, Devil is an Ass, iii. 1. If I transgress in point of manners, afford me Your best construction.
1637. Fletcher, Elder Brother, iii. 1. Young Eustace is a gentleman at all points. Ibid. (1647), Knight of Malta, i. 1. Thou hurriest me beyond mine honour's point.
1648. Suckling, Letters, 86. A pretty point of security, and such a one as all Germany cannot afford.
d. 1657. Bradford, Letters [Parker Soc. (1853), ii. 120]. Be at a point with yourselves, to follow not your will but God's will.
1713. Steele, Guardian, 42. There is a kind of drama in the forming of a a story, and the manner of . . . pointing it is the same as in an epigram.
d. 1732. Gay, Poems [Century]. Beauty with early bloom supplies Her daughter's cheek, and points her eyes.
d. 1745. Swift, To a Young Clergyman. The constant design of both these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point.
1749. Johnson, Human Wishes, 222. He left the name at which the world grew pale To point a moral, or adorn a tale.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge], 110. Set their faces point-blank against the tastes of the public; and as a proof of this there were a thousand cases in point. Ibid., 120. Blanche . . . was armed at all points with the weapons of a most perfect beauty.
1759. Sterne, Tristam Shandy, i. 9. Every author has a way of his own in BRINGING HIS POINTS TO BEAR.
