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diligence

1
[ dil-i-juhns ]
/ 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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Origin of diligence

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

Words nearby diligence

Other definitions for diligence (2 of 2)

diligence2
[ dil-i-juhns; French dee-lee-zhahns ]
/ ˈdɪl ɪ dʒəns; French di liˈʒɑ̃s /

noun, plural dil·i·gen·ces [dil-i-juhn-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. 2023

How to use diligence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for diligence (1 of 2)

diligence1
/ (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)

diligence2
/ (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
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