Neglect
Neglect , transitive verb
[Latin neglectus, past participle of neglegere (negligere) to disregard, neglect, the literal sense prob. being, not to pick up; nec not, nor (from ne not + -que, a particle akin to Gothic -h, -uh, and prob. to English who; compare Gothic nih nor) + Latin legere to pick up, gather. See No, adv., Legend, Who.]
1.
Not to attend to with due care or attention; to forbear one's duty in regard to; to allow to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, etc.; to omit; to disregard; to slight; as, to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts.
I hope
My absence doth neglect no great designs.
This, my long suffering and my day of grace,
Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste.
2.
To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight; as, to neglect strangers.
Neglect , noun
[Latin neglectus. See Neglect, v.]
1.
Omission of proper attention; avoidance or disregard of duty, from heedlessness, indifference, or willfulness; failure to do, use, or heed anything; culpable disregard; as, neglect of business, of health, of economy.
To tell thee sadly, shepherd, without blame,
Or our neglect, we lost her as we came.
2.
Omission of attention or civilities; slight; as, neglect of strangers.
3.
Habitual carelessness; negligence.
Age breeds neglect in all.
4.
The state of being disregarded, slighted, or neglected.
Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect.
Collocations (1)
benign neglect , A deliberate policy of minimizing public discussion of a controversial issue [for example by the president] on the theory that excessive discussion in itself is harmful or counterproductive.