Middle English Dictionary Entry
diliǧent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | diliǧent adj. Also deligent. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of persons: (a) diligent in a cause or to an end; assiduous, persevering, industrious; (b) eager (to do sth.); (c) heedful, careful; (d) attentive, dutiful.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)32/27 : Lite uolk þer byeþ þet by diligent ine þet hi byeþ yhyealde to done.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)220/7 : Þe children of riche men ssolle habbe guode lokeres and oneste þet..hi bi diligent ham wel to teche and loki uram zenne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1126 : What so mi lady hath me bede..I have therto be diligent.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1976 : Al oure couent To praye for yow is ay so diligent.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)279b/a : Sextius, most diligent [L diligentissimus] sercher of medicyne, denyeþ þis.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.485 : Pandarus, to quike alwey the fir, Was evere ylike prest and diligent.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)53/57 : His lawys of lyff..to lerne be dyligent.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.469 : To haue a noble herte, and a diligent to attayne to hye vertuouse thynges.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.929 : Priamus was passyng dilligent, Riȝt desyrous, and inwardly fervent, Ȝif he myȝt..To bilde a paleys.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1335 : The priour..them hom to brynge was dylygent.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)199/6 : Men mon be delyuerid of manye greet sijknessis if her leche is kunnynge & diligent aboute hem.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.435 : Diligenter folk in oxen donge Encludeth ereyther extremyte.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)5.62 : As of this aches ther be kyndes thre..Diligent Men tile and haue al thre to their entent.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)112 : As on þat had bene rauysched vttirlye, In his langage not gretly dylygent.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.530 : She was so diligent with outen slouthe To serue and plese euerich in that place.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4029 : I purpose..To wedde ȝou..And be to ȝou as lowly & as kynde, As diligent and more laborious, Þan whilom was ȝoure Menelaus.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)248 : I ment With al my myght feythfully to serue, With hert and al to be dilygent.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)275 : Sugettys schulde evyr be dylygent, Bothe in worde, in wylle, and dede, To plese her souereynes.
- a1500 Dayly in Englond (BodPoet e.1)p.273 : Mayny women be ryght dylygent.
2.
Of action: diligent, persevering, steady.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5593 : It was wrouȝt wiþ dilligent labour.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)377 : The heuenly mansiouns..ypreued out be diligent labour.
- (1426) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.4252 : Þe which þe preseid lorde shall fynde..by dewe and diligent serche.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2515 : All these thynges Founde..be deligent [vr. diligent] trauaile.