meticulous English · revision 1205

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /məˈtɪ.kjə.ləs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|meticulosus|t=fearful, timid]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''metus'' “fear”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) with an ending modelled on ''perīculōsus'' “perilous”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) The modern sense came under the influence of [[fr|méticuleux|t=timorously fussy]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Fearful or timid (1535).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The early sense became archaic after about 1700.^(Etymonline) The word returned in the sense of over-careful about small details (1827),^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) a use Etymonline traces to French and to literary critics, and which Fowler criticized.^(Etymonline) The OED notes that in present use it means simply careful, scrupulous and precise.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1535 – fearful, timid.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1700 – the old sense becomes archaic.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – over-careful about details.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Extremely careful and [[precise]] about small details.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Excessively concerned with details; [[finicky]] or [[fussy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Timid or fearful.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[meticulosity]]

+ * [[meticulously]]

+ * [[meticulousness]]

+ * [[unmeticulous]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[painstaking]]

+ * [[scrupulous]]

+ * [[punctilious]]

+ * [[perilous]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''meticulous'' with ''careful'', ''painstaking'', ''scrupulous'', ''fastidious'' and ''punctilious'': ''meticulous'' stresses extreme, sometimes exaggerated care for small details, while ''scrupulous'' suggests care prompted by conscience.^(AHD) Random House gives ''careless'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}