meticulous
adjective
Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Etymology
From Latin meticulosus "fearful, timid," from metus "fear." The meaning shifted from "fearful" to "over-careful" to simply "careful and precise."
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The meticulous accountant caught every discrepancy."
- 2.
"Her meticulous research took years to complete."
- 3.
"The restoration required meticulous attention to historical accuracy."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The meaning evolution from "fearful" to "careful" reflects how being afraid of making mistakes leads to extreme carefulness. This semantic shift happened gradually from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 10 letters (M, E, T, I, C, U, L, O, U, S)
Scrabble Value: 14 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "METICULOUS" appears in many related words.
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