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Webster 1913 Edition


Fastidious

Fas-tid′i-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
fastidiosus
disdainful, fr.
fastidium
loathing, aversion, perh. fr.
fastus
arrogance (of uncertain origin) +
taedium
loathing. Cf.
Tedious
,
Fash
.]
Difficult to please; delicate to a fault; suited with difficulty; squeamish;
as, a
fastidious
mind or ear; a
fastidious
appetite.

Webster 1828 Edition


Fastidious

FASTID'IOUS

,
Adj.
[L. fastidiousus, from fastidio, to disdain from fastus, haughtiness. See Heb.]
1.
Disdainful; squeamish; delicate to a fault; over nice; difficult to please; as a fastidious mind or taste.
2.
Squeamish; rejecting what is common or not very nice; suited with difficulty; as a fastidious appetite.

Definition 2024


fastidious

fastidious

English

Adjective

fastidious (comparative more fastidious, superlative most fastidious)

  1. Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details, especially about tidiness and cleanliness.
    • 2008, Robert Fisher, Memory Road, :
      His fastidious nature had been evident in his careful snipping of a customer's hair and now he guided his pencil with the same adroitness.
    • 2004, Maria Osborne Perr, Ravished Wings, :
      As she cleaned the room daily, she knew it was against his fastidious nature to bring or have food in his room.
    • 2003, Lynsay Sands, Single White Vampire:
    • He had at first tried to clean up as they ate, his fastidious nature kicking in, but Chris had told him to just stop, he was blocking the TV.
  2. Overly concerned about tidiness and cleanliness.
  3. Difficult to please; quick to find fault.
    • 1897, Kate Chopin, The Lilies,
      "It's burn[t], M'sieur," said Marie Louise, politely, but decidedly, to the utter confusion of Mr. Billy, who was as mortified as could be at the failure of his dinner to please his fastidious little visitor.
    • 1881, Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady,
      You're too fastidious, and too indolent, and too rich.

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