diligence

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Steady application; industry; careful work involving long-term effort.
2. (countable, uncountable)The qualities of a hard worker, including conscientiousness, determination, and perseverance.
3. (countable, uncountable)Carefulness, in particular, the necessary care appropriate to a particular task or responsibility.
4. (countable, historical, uncountable)A four-wheeled public stage-coach, widely used in France before the general establishment of the railways.

   “Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the inn at which the various diligences and carriages usually stopped.”

   “Being in a civilised country of stage-coaches, I determined to sell my lady friend and be off by the diligence that afternoon.”

   “ON the same day that Kadour ben Saden rode south the diligence from the north brought Tarzan a letter from D’Arnot which had been forwarded from Sidi-bel-Abbes.”

5. (countable, uncountable)The process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings.