Can't figure out the word "point" in this sentence.
Hi, I'm a complete begineer, and began reading Voyage Au Centre De La Terre. In one of the first paragraphs it says:
"mais le dîner a le droit de ne point être cuit"

I know the translation of the sentence as a whole, but can't figure out what "point" is. Is a conjugation of "poindre"? It still wouldn't make much sense to me. Which other word could replace it?

Question

Can't figure out the word "point" in this sentence.
Hi, I'm a complete begineer, and began reading Voyage Au Centre De La Terre. In one of the first paragraphs it says:
"mais le dîner a le droit de ne point être cuit"

I know the translation of the sentence as a whole, but can't figure out what "point" is. Is a conjugation of "poindre"? It still wouldn't make much sense to me. Which other word could replace it?

Answer

I am no native, but maybe I can help until a native steps in to confirm.

"ne...point" is an older/ more literary form of "ne...pas". So if you read "... de ne pas être cuit", it might make more sense ("... to not be cooked.")

Answer

Nowadays, people do not really use "point" to mean "pas". But, what I can say is that "point" is stronger than "pas". When you say "Il n'est point malade" you insist on the fact that he's not ill, but when you say "il n'est pas malade", it's juste a declarative sentence.