arduous
pronunciation
How to pronounce arduous in British English:
UK [ˈɑːdjuəs]
How to pronounce arduous in American English:
US [ˈɑːrdʒuəs]
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- Adjective:
- characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
- taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance
- difficult to accomplish; demanding considerable mental effort and skill
Word Origin
- arduous
- arduous: [16] Latin arduus, the source of English arduous, originally meant ‘high, steep’ (it is related to Greek orthós ‘straight, upright, correct’, as in English orthodox); the sense ‘difficult, laborious’ was a later metaphorical development. (The word has no connection with ardour, which comes ultimately from Latin ardēre ‘burn’; see ARSON.)=> orthodox
- arduous (adj.)
- 1530s, "hard to accomplish, difficult to do," from Latin arduus "high, steep," also figuratively, "difficult," from PIE root *eredh- "to grow, high" (see ortho-). Literal sense of "high, steep, difficult to climb," attested in English from 1709.
Example
- 1. Second , clinical trials are arduous .
- 2. Finding that special someone can be both an arduous and lengthy task .
- 3. Yet mastering these arduous skills is at the very essence of achievement .
- 4. Their desperate journey over the floes must surely rank as one of the most miserable and arduous polar slogs ever attempted .
- 5. Equally investors could declare this a breach of contract and sue for damages , but this would be a lengthy and arduous process .