different between vigilance vs assiduity

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French vigilance, from Latin vigilantia

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?v?d??l?ns/
• (weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /?v?d??l?ns/

Noun

vigilance (usually uncountable, plural vigilances)

1. Alert watchfulness.
2. Close and continuous attention.
   • 1837 March 4, Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address

     But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.

3. (obsolete) A guard; a person set to watch.

Derived terms

Related terms

• vigilant

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin vigilantia; equivalent to vigile +? -ance

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vi.?i.l??s/
• Rhymes: -??s

Noun

vigilance f (plural vigilances)

1. vigilance

Further reading

• “vigilance” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “See assiduus”)

Noun

assiduity (countable and uncountable, plural assiduities)

1. Great and persistent toil or effort.
   • 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond

     During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]

   • 1845, Jordan Roche Lynch, The Hunterian Oration (page 8)

     With the most patient assiduity he peered into the intricacies of unrevealed structure. No object was too minute, none too large, for his attention.
2. (in the plural) Constant personal attention, solicitous care.
   • 1559, translated by Thomas Paynell: Erasmus, The Complaint of Peace (1521)

     With difficulty could man be born into the world, or as soon as born would he die, leaving life at the very threshold of existence, unless the friendly hand of the careful matron, and the affectionate assiduities of the nurse, lent their aid to the helpless babe.

   • 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer

     I will stay even contrary to your wishes; and though you should persist to shun me, I will make my respectful assiduities atone for the levity of my past conduct.

Translations