diligent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks

   a diligent detective investigates all clues

2. 2
   adj

   quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness

   a diligent (or patient) worker

3. 3
   adj

   Performing with industrious concentration; hard-working and focused.

   Scientists are very diligent in their work.

Etymology

From Middle English diligent, from Old French diligent, from Latin dīligēns (“careful, attentive, diligent”), present participle of dīligō (“to love, esteem much”, literally “to choose, select”), from dī-, dis- (“apart”) + legō (“to choose”); see elect and select.