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Diligence

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Diligence
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dil⋅i⋅gence

1  [dil-i-juhns]
Use Diligence in a Sentence
–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.
Origin:
1300–50; ME deligence (< AF) < L dīligentia, equiv. to dīligent- (s. of dīligēns) diligent + -ia; see -ence
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dil⋅i⋅gence

2  [dil-i-juhns; Fr. dee-lee-zhahns]
–noun, plural -gen⋅ces  [-juhn-siz; Fr. -zhahns] .
a public stagecoach, esp. as formerly used in France.
Origin:
1735–45; short for F carosse de diligence speed coach
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dil·i·gence 1   (dĭl'ə-jəns)   
n.  

  1. Earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort; assiduity.

  2. Attentive care; heedfulness.

dil·i·gence 2   (dĭl'ə-jəns, dē'lē-zhäɴs')   
n.  A large stagecoach.

[French, from (carrosse de) diligence, speed (coach), from Old French, diligence, from Latin dīligentia, from dīligēns, dīligent-, diligent; see diligent.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

diligence 
1340, from O.Fr. diligence "attention, care," from L. diligentia "attentiveness, carefulness," from diligentem (nom. diligens) "attentive, assiduous, careful," originally prp. of diligere "value highly, love, choose," from dis- "apart" + legere "choose, gather" (see lecture). Sense evolved from "love" through "attentiveness" to "carefulness" to "steady effort."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: dil·i·gence
Pronunciation: 'di-l&-j&ns
Function: noun
: earnest and persistent application of effort esp. as required by law; also : CARE 1 —see also DUE DILIGENCE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Encyclopedia

diligence

large, four-wheeled, closed French stagecoach employed for long journeys. It was also used in England and was popular in both countries in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Learn more about diligence with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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