delinquentlyadv.
/dᵻˈlɪŋkw(ə)ntli/, U.S. /dəˈlɪŋkwən(t)li/ 1. In a criminal, immoral, or dishonest way; in the manner of a delinquent (delinquent n. 1).Quot. 1841 could perhaps be interpreted as showing sense 2; it refers to the playwright Edward Stirling having created a dramatization (with invented ending) of Charles Dickens's Barnaby Rudge, before the novel had been fully published in serial form.
ΚΠ
1841 Observer 5 July The dramatist has..invented a denouement which winds up in a summary and prophetic way the events he has delinquently borrowed.
1883 Preston Guardian 31 Mar. Thursday has..to be omitted as one of the hearing days; so that unless there be an actual change in the present temper of the delinquently disposed..there will be double work on a Friday at the Police Court.
1967 Social Probl. 15 114/2 This does not prove that lower status youngsters behave more delinquently than higher status ones, regardless of their being more often booked and incarcerated.
2003 L. K. Gaines & R. L. Miller Criminal Justice in Action (ed. 2) v. xv. 527 Does this..mean that no matter what steps society takes, six out of every hundred juveniles are ‘bad seeds’ and will act delinquently?
2. In a negligent or irresponsible manner; so as to fail in one's duty or obligations. Also with reference to the payment of a debt: at a time later than required, so as to be overdue.
ΚΠ
1843 Globe (Washington, D.C.) 11 Mar. Congress..cannot shamefully and delinquently shrink from the performance of this duty, and cast off the responsibility upon the State Legislatures.
1920 Jrnl. Amer. Steel Treaters Soc. Jan. 33 Those members of the Steel Treating Research Society who shall have paid their dues, either currently or delinquently, subsequent to September 15th, 1919, shall be given membership in the American Society for Steel Treating.
1991 Times Lit. Suppl. 12 Apr. 12/4 One sometimes get a free day in a strange town between readings; an interstice..into which one can crawl and delinquently dawdle for a few blessed hours.
2013 US State News Newswire (Nexis) 13 Jan. The estate filed delinquently and owes unpaid tax and interest.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
adv.1841