Legal Definitions - punctum temporis

Definition: Punctum temporis is a Latin term that refers to a specific point in time, or an instant.

• When the clock struck midnight, it marked a punctum temporis, the exact moment when the old year ended and the new one began.
• As the runner crossed the finish line, the timer recorded a punctum temporis, the precise moment when the race ended.

These examples illustrate how punctum temporis refers to a specific point in time, rather than a general period or duration. It is a moment that can be pinpointed and measured precisely.