Word of the Day - 10/14/26
fastidious
/fæ'stɪdiəs/(adj.): giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness
The fastidious editor meticulously checked every comma and period in the manuscript.
(adj.): having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
Certain fastidious bacteria require specific growth factors and environmental conditions to grow in the laboratory.
Word Origin
The word 'fastidious' originates from the Latin fastidiosus, meaning "disdainful, squeamish, or difficult to please." This Latin term itself is derived from fastidium, which conveyed the meaning of "loathing, distaste, or squeamishness."
The Latin root fastidium, from which 'fastidious' is derived, is often considered a compound of fastus ("scorn, pride") and taedium ("disgust, weariness"). While fastus has not yielded many direct English derivatives, taedium is the source of English words like 'tedious' and 'tedium', both referring to something boring or tiresome, causing weariness or disgust. Therefore, 'tedious' and 'tedium' share a part of the etymological heritage with 'fastidious' through the taedium component of fastidium.