[(? a. F. assiduité), ad. L. assiduitātem, n. of quality f. assiduus: see -ITY.]
1. Constant or close attention to the business in hand, unremitting application, persistent endeavor, perseverance, diligence.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxiii. § 37. Some measure things according to the labour and difficulty or assiduity which are spent about them.
1712. Hughes, Spect., No. 316, ¶ 6. The labour and assiduity with which Tully acquired his eloquence.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, III. xl. 105. Not one to fail in a purpose for want of assiduity.
2. Persistent endeavor to please, obsequious attention. arch. exc. as in b.
1630. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 38. And could not brook the obsequiousnesse and assiduity of the Court.
1720. Swift, Fates Clergym., Wks. 1755. II. II. 27. His lord was … attended by him with the most abject assiduity.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II. 287. Full of serene, delicate, reverential assiduity.
b. esp. in pl. Constant attentions.
1683. D. A., Art Converse, 98. To be rid of our troublesome assiduities.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., lv. (1804), 389. To vanquish her coldness and suspicion by my assiduities.
1847. H. Rogers, Ess., I. v. 242. And even declined, with cold and averted eye, the assiduities of their zealous love.
† 3. Continual recurrence or repetition, frequency.
1611. Cotgr., Assiduité, assiduity, frequencie, oftennesse.
1626. Donne, Serm., iv. 36. To dishonour miracles by the assiduity and frequency and multiplicity of them.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., III. i. 323. The Magnitude is various, according to the condition of the Organs and dignity of the Actions, their Assiduity and Magnitude.
