English
diligent
Diligent comes from Latin dīligēns ‘careful, attentive, diligent’, from dīligō ‘to love, esteem much’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- ‘to gather’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leǵ-‘to gather’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*léǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*legōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElegō‘to choose’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīligō‘to love, esteem much’literally ‘to choose, select’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīligēns‘careful, attentive, diligent’present participle of dīligō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400diligent
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500diligent
- Englishtodaydiligent
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leǵ-‘to gather’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*léǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*legōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElegō‘to choose’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīligō‘to love, esteem much’literally ‘to choose, select’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīligēns‘careful, attentive, diligent’present participle of dīligō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400diligent
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500diligent
- Englishtodaydiligent
The story
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.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- ‘to gather’
technology, collect, logic, apology, catalogue, sociology, analogy, terminology, trilogy, physiology, pathology, logos, astrology, monologue, leach, prologue, pathologist, archaeologist, logistic, lexicon, eulogy, cosmology, lexical, epilogue, etymology, epistemology, gynecologist, homologous, etiology, dialectical, dialectic, entomology, alexia, lexis, apologia, bacteriology, syllogism, bacteriologist, lignite, lignin, 151 more
through Proto-Italic *legō
selection, intellectual, intelligence, intelligent, ineligible, elector, legionella, legionnaire, legionary, 17 more
through Latin legō ‘to choose’
college, election, collection, lesson, select, legacy, collective, elite, lecture, legend, elect, colleague, eligible, delegation, collector, legion, elegant, delegate, coil, collegiate, negligible, negligence, cull, legible, legation, negligent, legate, lectern, collegium, lector, ineligibility, 25 more
through Latin dīligō ‘to love, esteem much’
Today it means
adj Performing with industrious concentration; hard-working and focused.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- / diligent