definitions

diligence

1
[ dil-i-juh ns ]
/ ˈdɪl ɪ dʒəns /
|
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noun

constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
Law. the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.
Obsolete. care; caution.

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RELATED WORDS

vigor, quickness, intensity, earnestness, alertness, exertion, constancy, attentiveness, assiduity, keenness, pertinacity, industry, attention, carefulness, application, intent, heed, activity, assiduousness, care

Nearby words

dilemmatic, dilettante, dilettantism, dilf, dili, diligence, diligent, diligently, dill, dill pickle, dillard

Origin of diligence

1
1300–50; Middle English deligence (< Anglo-French) < Latin dīligentia, equivalent to dīligent- (stem of dīligēns) diligent + -ia; see -ence

Definition for diligence (2 of 2)

diligence

2
[ dil-i-juh ns; French dee-lee-zhahns ]
/ ˈdɪl ɪ dʒəns; French di liˈʒɑ̃s /

noun, plural dil·i·gen·ces [dil-i-juh n-siz; French dee-lee-zhahns] /ˈdɪl ɪ dʒən sɪz; French di liˈʒɑ̃s/.

a public stagecoach, especially as formerly used in France.

Origin of diligence

2
1735–45; short for French carosse de diligence speed coach
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diligence

British Dictionary definitions for diligence (1 of 2)

diligence

1
/ (ˈdɪlɪdʒəns) /

noun

steady and careful application
proper attention or care
law the degree of care required in a given situation

Word Origin for diligence

C14: from Latin dīligentia care, attentiveness

British Dictionary definitions for diligence (2 of 2)

diligence

2
/ (ˈdɪlɪdʒəns, French diliʒɑ̃s) /

noun

history a stagecoach

Word Origin for diligence

C18: from French, shortened from carosse de diligence, literally: coach of speed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for diligence

diligence

n.

mid-14c., from Old French diligence "attention, care; haste, speed," from Latin diligentia "attentiveness, carefulness," from diligentem (nominative diligens) "attentive, assiduous, careful," originally present participle of diligere "single out, value highly, esteem, prize, love; aspire to, be content with, appreciate," originally "to pick out, select," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + legere "choose, gather" (see lecture (n.)).

Sense evolved from "love" through "attentiveness" to "carefulness" to "steady effort." From the secondary French sense comes the old useage of diligence for "public stage coach" (1742; dilly for short), from a French shortening of carrosse de diligence.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper