Word of the Day
: January 3, 2024diligent
playWhat It Means
Someone or something described as diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.
// After many hours of diligent research, the students were ready to compile their results.
diligent in Context
“Scott had a reputation for being diligent and hardworking, maybe a tad arrogant, but not the type to make rousing speeches in the locker room at halftime.” — Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023
Did You Know?
You’re more likely to be diligent about something if you love doing it. The etymology of diligent reflects the fact that devotion can lead to energetic effort. The word, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French, comes from the Latin verb diligere, meaning “to value or esteem highly” or “to love.” Diligere was formed by combining the di- prefix (from dis-, meaning “apart”) with the verb legere, meaning “to gather, select” or “to read.” Legere has itself proved to be a diligent contributor to English; its offspring include collect, lecture, legend, intelligent, and legume.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Name That Synonym
Fill in the blanks to reveal a synonym of diligent that means “constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied”: i _ _ u s _ r _ o _ s
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