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fastidious

 - 5 dictionary results

fas⋅tid⋅i⋅ous

  [fa-stid-ee-uhs, fuh-]
Use fastidious in a Sentence
–adjective
1. excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please: a fastidious eater.
2. requiring or characterized by excessive care or delicacy; painstaking.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L fastīdiōsus squeamish, equiv. to fastīdi(um) lack of appetite, disgust, perh. by syncope of *fastutīdium (fastu-, comb. form of fastus pride, conceit + -tīdium comb. form of taedium tedium ) + -ōsus -ous

Related forms:
fas⋅tid⋅i⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
fas⋅tid⋅i⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. See particular.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fastidious
fas·tid·i·ous   (fā-stĭd'ē-əs, fə-)   
adj.  

  1. Possessing or displaying careful, meticulous attention to detail.

  2. Difficult to please; exacting.

  3. Excessively scrupulous or sensitive, especially in matters of taste or propriety. See Synonyms at meticulous.

  4. Microbiology Having complicated nutritional requirements.


[Middle English, squeamish, particular, haughty, from Old French fastidieux, from Latin fastīdiōsus, from fastīdium, squeamishness, haughtiness, probably from fastus, disdain.]
fas·tid'i·ous·ly adv., fas·tid'i·ous·ness n.
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

fastidious 
c.1440, "full of pride," from L. fastidiosus "disdainful, squeamish, exacting," from fastidium "loathing," most likely from *fastu-taidiom, a compound of fastus "contempt, arrogance" and tædium "aversion, disgust." Early use in Eng. was in both passive and active senses. Meaning "squeamish, over-nice" emerged in Eng. 1612.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: fas·tid·i·ous
Pronunciation: fa-'stid-E-&s, f&-
Function: adjective
: having complex nutritional requirements<fastidious microorganisms> —used of bacteria that grow only in specially fortified artificial culture media
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

fastidious fas·tid·i·ous (fā-stĭd'ē-əs, fə-)
adj.

  1. Possessing or displaying careful, meticulous attention to detail.

  2. Difficult to please; exacting.

  3. Having complex nutritional requirements. Used of microorganisms.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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