ASSIDUITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does assiduity mean? 

• ASSIDUITY (noun)
  The noun ASSIDUITY has 1 sense:

1. great and constant diligence and attention

  Familiarity information: ASSIDUITY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASSIDUITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Great and constant diligence and attention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

assiduity; assiduousness; concentration

Hypernyms ("assiduity" is a kind of...):

diligence; industriousness; industry (persevering determination to perform a task)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "assiduity"):

engrossment; intentness (the quality of being intent and concentrated)

singleness (the quality of concentrating on one central objective)

Derivation:

assiduous (marked by care and persistent effort)

 Context examples 

In the tractability with which, at my wish, you forsook a study in which you were interested, and adopted another because it interested me; in the untiring assiduity with which you have since persevered in it—in the unflagging energy and unshaken temper with which you have met its difficulties—I acknowledge the complement of the qualities I seek.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Arrived at Mr. Wickfield's house, I found, in the little lower room on the ground floor, where Uriah Heep had been of old accustomed to sit, Mr. Micawber plying his pen with great assiduity.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities which education might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their meeting in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward others made every shew of attention and deference towards herself perfectly valueless.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He gave this opinion as the result of the conversation to his father; and recommended there being nothing more said to her: no farther attempts to influence or persuade; but that everything should be left to Crawford's assiduities, and the natural workings of her own mind.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She also fancied, having set her heart upon seeing it, that she saw a certain increase of gentleness in Laurie's manner, that he dropped his voice now and then, laughed less than usual, was a little absent-minded, and settled the afghan over Beth's feet with an assiduity that was really almost tender.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Now, mine continually rove away; when I should be listening to Miss Scatcherd, and collecting all she says with assiduity, often I lose the very sound of her voice; I fall into a sort of dream.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was certainly not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street; and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their visit should begin a few days before the party took place.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)