Definition of ASSIDUOUSNESS

Choose the Right Synonym for assiduous

busy, industrious, diligent, assiduous, sedulous mean actively engaged or occupied. busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure. too busy to spend time with the children industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work. industrious employees diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit. very diligent in her pursuit of a degree assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application. assiduous practice sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application. a sedulous investigation of the murder

The History of Assiduous

Assiduous came to English directly from the Latin assiduus, an adjective derived from the verb assidēre "to sit beside." To the ancient Romans, assiduus carried meanings ranging from “settled or rooted in place” to “constantly present” to “persistent, unremitting." This last sense was the one borrowed into English four hundred years ago and still used today, often in complimentary phrases such as "an assiduous student" and “assiduous efforts.” In the 18th century, the word took on a mildly pejorative meaning, "obsequious," when used of someone striving to please. This sense has largely passed out of use.

Did You Know?

Judges presiding over assizes (former periodical sessions of the superior courts in English counties) had to be assiduous in assessing how to best address their cases. Not only were their efforts invaluable, but they also served as a fine demonstration of the etymologies of "assiduous," "assess," and "assize." All three of those words derive from the Latin verb assidēre, which is variously translated as "to sit beside," "to take care of," or "to assist in the office of a judge." "Assidēre," in turn, is a composite of the prefix ad- (in this case, meaning "near" or "adjacent to") and sedēre, meaning "to sit."

Examples of assiduous in a Sentence

They were assiduous in their search for all the latest facts and figures. The project required some assiduous planning.

Recent Examples on the Web China has been particularly assiduous in its multi-pronged and bold espionage endeavors in recent years, analysts contend, prompting aggressive pushback from the DOJ. — Fox News, "China ups its spy game on US soil as it bids to control coronavirus narrative," 22 Apr. 2020 The parents' tender, assiduous care is moving to witness. — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Wake Up on Mars': Film Review | Tribeca 2020," 17 Apr. 2020 But the players maintained their assiduous fire, plugged into the alternating current of past and present. — Matthew Guerrieri, Washington Post, "Claremont Trio energetically amplifies historical currents," 16 Dec. 2019 In such a situation, even the most assiduous travellers will always press on to some kind of home. — Olga Tokarczuk, The New Yorker, "A New World Through My Window," 8 Apr. 2020 Similarly, in op-eds published by leading epidemiologists, the authors are similarly assiduous in distinguishing between the disease and the virus. — Mary Hui, Quartz, "Why won’t the WHO call the coronavirus by its name, SARS-CoV-2?," 18 Mar. 2020 Curbing Iran’s nuclear aspirations and ambitions for regional dominance will require assiduous American diplomacy, not war. — Martin Indyk, WSJ, "The Middle East Isn’t Worth It Anymore," 17 Jan. 2020 Dijlah has been particularly assiduous about reporting on the protests, traveling to provincial capitals and interviewing scores of demonstrators. — Falih Hassan, New York Times, "Violence Rises in Iraq’s South Amid Crackdowns on Protests and Press," 28 Nov. 2019 After all the assiduous downplaying of terrorism fears, why are the media up-playing mass-shooting fears? — Kyle Smith, National Review, "The Media Should Stop Encouraging Mass-Shooting Phobias," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assiduous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.