fastidious

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WOTD - 3 December 2006

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Latin fastidiosus (“passive: that feels disgust, disdainful, scornful, fastidious; active: that causes disgust, disgusting, loathsome”), from fastidium (“a loathing, aversion, disgust, niceness of taste, daintiness, etc.”), perhaps for *fastutidium, from fastus (“disdain, haughtiness, arrogance, disgust”) + taedium (“disgust”). Confer French fastidieux.

[edit] Pronunciation

IPA: /fæˈstɪdiəs/, /fəˈstɪdiəs/, SAMPA: /f{stIdi@s/, /f@stIdi@s/
Audio (US)

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[edit] Adjective

fastidious (comparative more fastidious, superlative most fastidious)

Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details.
Overly concerned about tidiness and cleanliness.
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.