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

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

The Harris campaign tackled get-out-the-vote operations with the diligence of a straight-A student who always has her hand in the air, knocking over 800,000 doors in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

From Salon

But she also worries that in today’s polarized climate, election officials doing their due diligence to properly count the vote will be misinterpreted as opportunities for fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead of praising their diligence, Trump demanded to know: “Why did you wait?”

From Salon

He said it was "really, really essential" buyers did "due diligence" and got any promises from salespeople in writing.

From BBC

Related Words

• alertness
• earnestness
• intensity
• quickness
• vigor