dīlĭgentĭa, ae, f. [diligens], carefulness, attentiveness, earnestness, diligence (freq. and class.; cf.: labor, aerumna, opera, industria, assiduitas, sedulitas, studium, cura).
I In gen.: reliqua sunt in cura, attentione animi, cogitatione, vigilantia, assiduitate, labore; complectar uno verbo, quo saepe jam usi sumus, diligentia, qua una virtute omnes virtutes reliquae continentur, Cic. de Or. 2, 35, 150 (v. the whole chapter in connection).
α With praepp. : pro mea summa in re publica diligentia, Cic. Mur. 40, 86: in controversia, id. Att. 2, 15, 4: in verbis, Quint. 4, 2, 117: diligentia tua in retractandis operibus, Plin. Ep. 9, 35, 2: circa proprietatem, Quint. 8, 3, 87: circa istum lacum, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 62: erga pecuniam alienam, Tac. A. 4, 20: diligentiam adhibere ad rem, Cic. Fam. 16, 9, 3: in rem, id. ib. 16, 6, 1; 16, 9, 4; cf. id. ib. 16, 4, 4.—
β Absol. , Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 6; id. Rud. 3, 5, 40; Ter. Hec. 263; Cic. Planc. 4, 9; id. Att. 2, 15 fin. ; id. de Or. 1, 61, 260; id. Rep. 1, 22 fin. ; id. Lael. 16, 60 et saep.; Caes. B. G. 1, 40, 4; 3, 20, 1 et saep.: obscura, Ter. And. 21; cf. inanis, Quint. 5, 11, 30: nimium sollicita, id. 3, 11, 22; 12, 1, 6: sinistra, Plin. Ep. 7, 28 fin. —
γ Rarely with gen.: sacrorum, the care of , etc., Cic. Rep. 2, 14; cf.: dignitatis commoditatisque, id. Off. 1, 39: mandatorum tuorum, id. Top. 1 fin. : tenuis illa divisionis, Quint. 4, 5, 6: nostri, i. e. affection for us , Symm. Ep. 1, 41: Ecclesiae Dei, Vulg. 1 Tim. 3, 5.—
II In partic., carefulness in household affairs , i. e. economy, frugality , Cic. Off. 2, 24 fin. ; Auct. Her. 4, 22, 25; Suet. Galb. 12 fin. — Plur. (very rare): maritorum inefficaces diligentiae, precautions , Ap. Met. 9, 16, 10.