Your ShelfYour Projects
Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Neglect

Neg-léct’, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. NEGLECTED; p. pr. & vb. n. NEGLECTING.] [Lat. negligere, neglectum, to disregard, neglect, properly not to pick up, from nec, not, and legere, to pick up, gather; It. negligere, Fr. négliger.]

Sense 1. Not to treat with due attention; to forbear one's duty in regard to; to suffer to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, or the like; to omit; to disregard; to slight; as, to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts; to neglect interest or policy.

This, my long suffering and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton.

Sense 2. Hence, not to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight; as, to neglect strangers.

Sense 3. To cause to be omitted; to postpone. [Obs.]

I trust My absence doth neglect no great design. Shak.

Synonyms— To slight; overlook; disregard; disesteem; contemn. See SLIGHT.

Neg-lēct’, n.

noun

n. [Lat. neglectus. See supra.] 1. Omission of proper attention; forbearance of duty, from heedlessness, indifference, or willfulness; failure to do, use, or heed any thing; culpable disregard; as, neglect of business, of health, of economy, and the like. To tell thee gladly, shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. Milton.

  1. Omission of attention or civilities; slight; as, neglect of strangers.
  2. Habitual want of regard; negligence. [Obs. or rare.]

Age breeds neglect in all. Denham. 4. State of being disregarded. Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect. Prior. Syn.—Negligence; inattention; disregard; disesteem; slight; indifference. See NEGLIGENCE.