diligence

¹

[ dil-i-juhns ]

noun

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

diligence

²

[ dil-i-juhns; French dee-lee-zhahns ]

noun

, plural dil·i·gen·ces [dil, -i-j, uh, n-siz, dee-lee-, zhahns].

1. a public stagecoach, especially as formerly used in France.

diligence

¹

/ diliʒɑ̃s; ˈdɪlɪdʒəns /

noun

1. history a stagecoach

diligence

²

/ ˈdɪlɪdʒəns /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of diligence¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English deligence, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīligentia, equivalent to dīligent- (stem of dīligēns ) diligent ( def ) + -ia; -ence ( def )

Origin of diligence²

First recorded in 1735–45; short for French carosse de diligence “speed coach”

Word History and Origins

Origin of diligence¹

C18: from French, shortened from carosse de diligence, literally: coach of speed

Origin of diligence²

C14: from Latin dīligentia care, attentiveness

Example Sentences

However, the DfE confirmed its due diligence checks did not examine the financial background of independent schools' prospective proprietors.

From BBC

It was committed to transparency but there was "an expectation and obligation that the customer completes their own due diligence".

From BBC

If concerns aren’t acted on with "diligence and robustness,” that could, in his view, "potentially be interpreted by abusers as a bit of a green light”.

From BBC

In February 2023, an environmental review identified a contamination risk from "asbestos-containing materials in existing buildings and contaminated ground", while a due diligence report assessed conditions at the site as "high risk".

From BBC

The charity said that their head, Fearghal McKinney, had a phone call with O'Neill in which she "agreed recent comments by her and party colleagues questioning the BHF’s due diligence process were unhelpful".

From BBC

Related Words

• alertness
• earnestness
• intensity
• quickness
• vigor