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Origin and history of studious

studious(adj.)

mid-14c., "zealous, diligent, eager;" by late 14c. specifically as "eager to learn, devoted to learning, seeking knowledge from books;" from Latin studiosus "devoted to study, assiduous, zealous," from studium "eagerness, zeal" (see study).

By 1530s as "characterized by careful attention, with studied care."

Studious represents a fact in conduct : scholarly, a fact in taste or predilection, or a similar result : as, he was very studious, but not really of scholarly instincts, nor likely ever to produce a scholarly treatise. [Century Dictionary] 

From late 14c. as a noun, "those who study or read diligently." Related: Studiously; studiousness. Studiosity is attested from mid-15c. as "application, diligence" but seems to be obsolete.

also from mid-14c.

Entries linking to studious

study(v.)

early 12c., studien, "to strive toward, devote oneself to, cultivate" (virtue, vice, wisdom, art, etc., sometimes translating Latin occupare), from Old French estudiier "to study, apply oneself, show zeal for; examine" (13c., Modern French étudier).

This is from Medieval Latin studiare, from Latin studium "study, application," originally "eagerness," from studere "to be diligent," which is reconstructed to be from PIE *(s)teu- (1) "to push, stick, knock, beat" (see steep (adj.)). The notion appears to be "pressing forward, thrusting toward," hence "striving after."

Martha swanc and becarcade to geforðigene þan Hælende and his þeowen þa lichamlice behefðen. Seo studdede emb þa uterlice þing. ["Homily for the Feast of the Virgin Mary," c. 1125]

It is attested from c. 1300 specifically as "apply oneself to the acquisition of learning, pursue a formal course of study," also "read (a book or writings) intently or meditatively." It is from mid-14c. as "reflect, muse, think, ponder."

The broad meaning "seek to learn particulars of by observation" is from c. 1600; that of "regard attentively" is from 1660s. Related: Studied; studying.

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