or ADSIDUUS, among the Romans,

denoted a rich or wealthy person. The word in this

sense is derived from as affinis, q.d. a moneyed man.

Hence we meet with affiduous furteties, affidui fidejusfo-

res, answering to what the French now call city furteties

or securities, cautions bourgeots.

When Servius Tullius divided the Roman people in-

to five classes, according as they were assessed or taxed

to the public, the richer sort who contributed most were

denominated affidui; and as these were the chief people

of business who attended all the public concerns, those

who were diligent in attendances came to be denomina-

ted affidui.