diligens Latin · revision 30913

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la dis-, ine-pro *leǵ-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dīligēns''' (genitive dīligentis); third declension; comparative dīligentior, superlative dīligentissimus^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the present participle of [[m|la|dīligō|t=to value, love]] used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) The verb is formed from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|legō|t=to choose, gather]], which de Vaan traces to [[ine-pro|*leǵ-|t=to collect]], cognate with [[grc|λέγω|tr=légō|t=to gather; to speak]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Amphitruo'': Alcmena is ''dīligentem ut uxōrem decet'', “careful, as a wife should be”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is careful, attentive, diligent or scrupulous; it is also thrifty or economical: the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' warns against calling a wasteful spendthrift sparing and careful.^(OLD 2012) With a genitive it is fond of or devoted to, as Cicero says every nature loves itself.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it “diligent, careful”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a careful wife.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero in the sense “fond of”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Careful, attentive, [[m|en|diligent]], scrupulous.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|thrifty|alt=Thrifty]], economical.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(with genitive)'' Fond of, devoted to.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dīligō]]

+ * [[dīligentia]]

+ * [[legō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}