assiduous: difference between revisions

Learned borrowing from Latin assiduus, from assidere (“to sit down to”), from ad- (“to”) + sedere (“to sit”).^[1]

Cognate (via assidere) to assess.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˈsɪdjuːəs/, /əˈsɪd͡ʒuːəs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /əˈsɪd͡ʒu.əs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

assiduous (comparative more assiduous, superlative most assiduous)

1. Hard-working, diligent or regular (in attendance or work); industrious.

   Synonyms: meticulous, diligent, sedulous; see also Thesaurus:industrious

   • 1831, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 2, in The Surgeon's Daughter:

     He was officious in the right time and place, quiet as a lamb when his patron seemed inclined to study or to muse, active and assiduous to assist or divert him whenever it seemed to be wished.

   • 1880, Henry James, chapter 33, in Washington Square‎^[1], Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 249:

     He died after three weeks' illness, during which Mrs. Penniman, as well as his daughter, had been assiduous at his bedside.

   • 1917, P. G. Wodehouse, “Bill the Bloodhound”, in The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories:

     A good deal of assiduous attention had enabled Henry to win this place in her affections.

   • 2009 July 6, Will Pavia, “Allen Klein, accountant turned manager of the Beatles, dies at 77”, in The Times, UK:

     Klein rose to prominence in the 1960s by assiduous application of accounting methods to the music industry.

   • 2023 June 15, Manohla Dargis, “‘Asteroid City’ Review: Our Town and Country”, in The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:

     “Asteroid City,” the latest from Wes Anderson, is filled with the assiduous visuals, mythic faces and charming curiosities that you expect from this singular filmmaker.

• Since the 18th century, this term has sometimes carried a connotation of servility.^[1]