DILIGENT

[dil.i.gent] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L diligent-, diligens, fr. prp. of diligere to esteem, love, fr. di- (fr. dis- apart) + legere to select--more at legend] (14c): characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort: painstaking syn see busy -- dil.i.gent.ly adv