NEGLIGENCE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Negligence

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/nˈɛglədʒəns/ /nˈɛglɪdʒəns/ Listen

noun

Negligence n.

1.

The quality or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness.

2.

An act or instance of negligence or carelessness. "remarking his beauties,... I must also point out his negligences and defects."

3.

(Law) The omission of the care usual under the circumstances, being convertible with the Roman culpa. A specialist is bound to higher skill and diligence in his specialty than one who is not a specialist, and liability for negligence varies acordingly.

Contributory negligence. See under Contributory.

Synonyms: Neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight. Negligence, Neglect. These two words are freely interchanged in our older writers; but a distinction has gradually sprung up between them. As now generally used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of leaving things undone or unattended to. We are negligent as a general trait of character; we are guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in reference to individuals who had a right to our attentions.

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Etymology of 'Negligence'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Negligence" Quotes from Famous Books

... determination by astronomers of the position of the earth on that day in its revolution around the sun, yet the original selection of January 1st for the beginning of the year seems to have been merely the result of previous errors and negligence in attempting to fix the winter solstice (which now comes out as December 22nd). This is the day when the sun is lowest and the day shortest; after it has passed the sun appears gradually to acquire a new power, and increases the duration of his stay ...

— More Science From an Easy Chair • Sir E. Ray (Edwin Ray) Lankester

... them in Troy) seemed to like him none the less because he lost no occasion, public or private, of commending wedlock. For the doctrine of Mr. Malthus (recently promoted to a Professorship at the East India College) he had a robust contempt. He openly regretted that, owing to the negligence of our forefathers, the outbreak of war found Great Britain with but fifteen million inhabitants to match against twenty-five million Frenchmen. They threatened to invade us, whereas we should rather ...

— The Mayor of Troy • Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

... me how the Committee for Trade have received now all the complaints of the merchants against the Dutch, and were resolved to report very highly the wrongs they have done us, (when God knows! it is only our own negligence and laziness that hath done us the wrong): and this to be made ...

— The Diary of Samuel Pepys • Samuel Pepys

... to another opened a new class of cases. The law obliged the wrong-doer to make reparation, and this responsibility extended to damages arising not only from positive acts, but from negligence or imprudence. In cases of libel or slander, the truth of the allegation might be pleaded in justification. In all cases it was necessary to show that an injury had been committed maliciously; but if damage arose in the exercise of a right, as killing a slave ...

— Beacon Lights of History, Volume III • John Lord

... from Mrs Hensor, information as to how she herself had been getting on during his absence, and Mrs Hensor would give him a garbled report of her own dismissal from the sick room.... How dared he—oh! how DARED he treat her, Lady Bridget, his wife, with such cruel negligence, such marked insult! ...

— Lady Bridget in the Never-Never Land • Rosa Praed

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