Word of the day: ASSIDUOUS

Pronunciaton: as·sid·u·ous   uk /əˈsɪdʒ.u.əs/   us /əˈsɪdʒ.u.əs/

Meaning

Assiduous is an adjective that describes someone who shows great care, attention, and persistent effort in carrying out tasks.

Origin and History

The word assiduous originates from the Latin word ‘assiduus’, meaning busy, incessant, constant. It derives from the verb assidēre, which means to sit beside or to sit down to a task, conveying the idea of sitting down and focusing with constant, persistent effort.

The word was introduced into English in the mid-16th century to describe diligence and dedication.

Examples from Literature

  • Columbus had been an itinerant peddler of old maps and an assiduous reader of the books by and about the ancient geographers, including Eratosthenes, Strabo and Ptolemy. – Cosmos by Carl Sagan
  • He had learned these three arts and nothing else during the diligent, assiduous years of his youth. – Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Synonyms

  • Diligent
  • Sedulous
  • Persevering
  • Unremitting
  • Persistent