English Lexicon

Neglect

/nɪˈɡlɛkt/
verbnounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To fail to care for properly; to give too little attention or respect to someone or something.

    "If you neglect your house plants, they will eventually wither and die."
As noun
  1. 1

    The state or fact of being uncared for, ignored, or disregarded.

    "The historic building fell into a state of severe neglect over the decades."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'neglect' originates from the Latin 'neglegere', meaning 'to disregard' or 'to overlook', which evolved through Old French 'neglecter' before entering Middle English in the 14th century. Over time, its meaning has shifted to encompass both the act of failing to care for something and the state of being disregarded.

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