assiduous

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English

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Etymology

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

Cognate (via assidere) to assess.

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

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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.

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “assiduous”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.