diligence
UK[ˈdɪlɪdʒəns]US[ˈdɪlɪdʒəns]
n
careful and persistent work or effort.
n
(law) the degree of care or caution expected from a reasonable person in a particular situation.
Morpheme Breakdown
dili
gence
dili
choose, love
gence
noun suffix
Etymology
the word diligence originates from the latin verb 'diligere', meaning "to value highly, to love, or to choose." this verb is a compound of 'dis-' (apart) and 'legere' (to choose, to gather), conveying the sense of single-minded selection and attentive care. the abstract noun 'diligentia' described the quality of being painstaking and conscientious, a meaning directly inherited by middle english via old french. the modern sense of steady, careful application in work logically extends from this core idea of loving attention and careful choice in one's actions.
Analysis
Structure: dili (choose, love) + gence (noun suffix)
dili- from latin 'diligentia', itself from the verb 'diligere' (to esteem highly, to love, to choose). -gence is an english adaptation of the latin noun-forming suffix '-gentia', indicating a state or quality.
Examples
she completed the project with remarkable diligence and attention to detail.
the success of the venture was due to the team's collective diligence.
the court found the company had failed to exercise due diligence in its safety checks.