Word: assiduous (adjective)

Associations

"Assiduous" means showing great care, attention, and effort in doing something. It describes someone who works hard and is very persistent.

• A student who studies every day for hours is assiduous. This shows dedication.
• A gardener who regularly waters and tends plants carefully is assiduous.
• An employee who completes tasks on time and pays attention to details is assiduous.

Synonym: "diligent" is very close in meaning. Both mean hardworking and careful. The difference is that "assiduous" often emphasizes continuous effort without stopping, while "diligent" focuses more on careful and steady work.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• diligent
• hardworking
• persistent
• meticulous (if focusing on careful attention to detail)

Changing the word slightly changes the meaning:

• "Hardworking" is more general about effort.
• "Persistent" emphasizes not giving up.
• "Meticulous" highlights carefulness.

Deconstruction

• Root: Latin "assiduus" means "constantly present, attentive."
• Prefix: "ad-" means "to, toward."
• Suffix: "-uous" forms an adjective, meaning full of or characterized by.

So, "assiduous" literally means "full of constant attention."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you were assiduous in learning something? What helped you keep going?
• How is being assiduous different from just working hard sometimes?
• What kinds of jobs or tasks require someone to be assiduous? Why?