English Explanatory Dictionary

punctum saliens

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The primordial heart in an embryo, appearing as a throbbing point.
  2. Starting point, source; gist.

Word forms

punctum saliens

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin punctum saliēns (“leaping point”), attributed to Volcher Coiter or Ulysses Aldrovandi, after a Latin translation of Aristotle's History of Animals (book 6, part 3).

Synonyms

bowels sum brass tacks core crux essence gist drift guts gravamen heart heart and soul heartstring heartstrings inwardness kernel marrow meat moral of the story nitty-gritty nub nuts and bolts pith punctum saliens quintessence soul spirit stuff substance tenor
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