neglectn.
/nᵻˈɡlɛkt/, U.S. /nəˈɡlɛk(t)/ 1.
a. Disregard of or indifference towards a thing. Usually with of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [noun] > neglect > of something
recklessnessOE
negligence1351
unconsiderance1546
neglect1597
wretchlessness1630
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lvii. 126 How easily neglect and carelesse regard of so heauenly mysteries may follow.
a1630 F. Moryson in Shakespeare's Europe (1903) iii. iii. 281 I obserued in England the same superstitious neglect of Common prayer, and excessiue valuation of Preaching, to haue infected some places among vs.
1640–1 in J. Nicholson Kirkcudbright War Comm. Minute Bk. (1855) 31 By a shrud neglect a fire kendled in or about a nursery.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 51. ⁋1 Orlando..also had a Neglect whether Things became him or not.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 512 Tho' the Duke sent the offer of pardon to them..it was refused with great neglect.
1825 T. Jefferson Let. 21 Feb. in Writings (1984) 1499 Who vice in all its pomp and power, can treat with just neglect.
1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. iv. §26. 90 Assuming that consciousness contains nothing but limits and conditions; to the entire neglect of that which is limited and conditioned.
1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out xiii. 203 Rachel walked..downstairs, lost in wonder at her uncle, and his books, and his neglect of dances, and his..inexplicable..view of life.
1973 A. C. Boult My Own Trumpet xi. 144 I am afraid he shares the apathetic neglect that England maintains towards all American composers.
1992 J. P. L. Roberts in G. Gould Sel. Lett. p. xiii Gould felt so strongly about the neglect of Mendelssohn's music.
b. The fact of disregarding, slighting, or paying no attention to, a person, etc.; the fact or condition of being neglected; †an instance of this, a slight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [noun] > neglect
unattendancec1449
nonchaloir1496
negligencya1500
obliviona1500
neglecting1539
misregard1543
forgetfulness1576
neglect1598
negligence1604
neglection1609
neglectiveness1621
disattention1624
disregarding1659
slightiness1662
disregard1733
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > [noun] > disrespect by disregarding
neglecting1539
misregard1543
neglect1598
non-regardancea1616
slightinga1640
unregarda1656
slight1701
negligence1778
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [noun] > neglect > state of being neglected
neglect1598
neglectedness1660
disregardedness1841
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > [noun] > disrespect by disregarding > instance of
neglect1598
slight1719
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [noun] > neglect > of a person > instance of
neglect1598
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iii. i. 197 It is a plague That Cupid will impose for my neglect, Of his almightie..might. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 180 The Duke hath put on a Religious life, And throwne into neglect the pompous Court. View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. i. vii. sig. N2 Unable to make him think himself happy, as long as he could not neglect a Captives neglect of him.
1670 R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 466 He complained [of]..several neglects on M[onsieu]r['s] part towards him.
1711 M. Prior Henry & Emma 616 Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect.
1761 G. G. Beekman Let. 26 Feb. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 372 I Take Liberty to trouble you with a Letter open to Mr. Benson by Which you se what a disadvantage I labour under through his Neglect.
1797 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 435 Neglect, contumely, and insult, were never the ways of keeping friends.
a1817 J. Austen Lady Susan xii, in Wks. (1954) VI. 260 Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other Men.
1876 H. James Roderick Hudson xiii. 468 My indifference, my neglect of her, must have seemed to you horrible.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 735/2 His open neglect of his wife, Maria,..and his ostentatious passion for Leonora..set Peter an example which he did not fail to better.
1952 M. Kennedy Troy Chimneys 78 Their neglect of their neighbours is as nothing in comparison with their inhumanity to those whose comfort must depend on them.
2001 N.Y. Times 1 Apr. iv. 3/5 The United States could come to regret its neglect of native-born minorities.
2. † c. in neglect of: in default of. Obsolete. rare.
a. Lack of attention to what ought to be done; the fact of leaving something undone or unattended to; negligence. Also with of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [noun] > negligence
negligence1351
lashness1477
uncarefulness1567
oscitancy1609
neglect1610
neglectiveness1621
oscitation1656
neglectfulness1693
laches1844
1610 in H. Paton Dundonald Parish Rec. (1936) 204 John Findlay..was again accusit of the neglek of his devtie to his father.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. iv. 87 My master charg'd me to deliuer a ring to Madam Siluia: wc (out of my neglect) was neuer done. View more context for this quotation
1683 W. Temple Mem. in Wks. (1720) I. 459 This he made good, dying with Neglect upon a Fit of the Gout.
1706 Boston News-let. 21 Jan. 2/2 Upon their Neglect to meet the said Attorneys on the days..aforesaid, They must expect Lawfull Process to be made against them.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 456 This..offends me more Than in a churchman slovenly neglect And rustic coarseness would.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. (at cited word) Officers or soldiers convicted of neglect of duty, are punishable at the discretion of a court martial.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Charles I ii, in Wks. (1870) II. 380 Our royal forests, Whose limits, from neglect, have been o'ergrown.
1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 91 Everybody fancies that his own neglect will do no harm.
1908 E. F. Benson Climber 51 The house, at any rate, was habitable again after a period of prolonged neglect, during which only a room or two had been used.
1987 I. McEwan Child in Time iii. 52 How rapidly a home perishes through neglect, and how indefinably.
b. An instance of negligence; an omission or oversight. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [noun] > negligence > oversight, omission, or negligence > instance of
oversight1531
overscape1581
overslip1584
preterition1609
neglect1611
inanimadvertence1656
inanimadversion1676
inadvertency1702
inadvertence1725
overlook1858
1611 W. Strachey Lawes (1612) 66 If any thing shall happen, either disorders or neglects of duties, it shall be fit for him to aduertise his superior officers.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 316 The neglects committed in the disposition, are discovered by the lightsomenesse of the things themselves.
1698 R. Ferguson View of Ecclesiastick in Socks & Buskins 34 It would be matter of Enquiring how he came in and by what neglects he escapes being cast out.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. ii. 39 Neglects from Inconsiderateness, Want of Attention,..are often attended with Consequences..as dreadful, as any active Misbehaviour.
1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman v. 61 This Consideration alone ought to keep an honest Man constantly upon the Watch, when he is preparing his Medicines..since it is known that very minute neglects have been productive of fatal Consequences.
1854 J. H. Stocqueler Hand-bk. Brit. India (ed. 3) 340 A province..gradually recovering from the effects of Mahratta ravages and neglects.
1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities iii. xiii. 233 Physical diseases, engendered in the vices and neglects of men, will seize on victims of all degrees.
1892 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Claim 122 You must try to overlook these little things, Mr. Bunker, these little neglects on my part.
1966 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 23 Feb. (1995) 367 Nothing is more boring than long explanation of one's neglects, so I will merely say that I have been since Christmas taxed beyond my capacity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > non-possession > non-possession [phrase] > through lack of
for (the) fault ofc1290
for default ofc1300
for (occasionally by, from, through) lack ofc1386
for want ofa1425
in want of1556
in defect of1563
in failance ofa1627
in neglect of1807
1807 J. Robinson Archæol. Græca i. ix. 41 They forfeited double the sum, to be paid by themselves or their sureties; and, in neglect of this, they and their sureties were imprisoned.
3. Failure to take proper care of a child or other dependent person, esp. when tantamount to maltreatment or cruelty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > ill-treatment > [noun] > amounting to cruelty > by neglect
neglecta1618
a1618 J. Sylvester Tobacco Battered (1620) 115 How iuster will the Heau'nly God.., punish..Those, that on Earth will still offend in Smoak?..Offend their Wiues and Children, with Neglect: [etc.].
1622 J. Reynolds Triumphs Gods Revenge: 2nd Bk. ix. 144 As I praise Arconeto's intimate loue to his son, so I cannot but discommend, and withal pity his immerited and vnnaturall neglect to his daughter.
1686 S. F. Egerton Female Advocate 19 The Wife and Children by neglect disdain'd, Wretched and poor unto their Friends return, Having got nothing, unless cause to mourn.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 211 It touch'd my Heart so forcibly to think of Parting entirely with the Child, and for ought I knew, of having it murther'd, or starv'd by Neglect and Ill-usuage.
1745 E. Haywood Female Spectator IV. 192 To render miserable by our Neglect any thing whose sole Dependence is upon us is highly ungenerous.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations II. v. ii. 486 Such disorderly persons, however, seldom rear up numerous families; their children generally perishing from neglect, mismanagement, and the scantiness or unwholesomeness of their food. View more context for this quotation
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 42 An Infant..Left by neglect and burrow'd in that bed.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby lx I brought the child..and lodged him in the front garret. Neglect had made him very sickly, and I was obliged to call in a doctor.
1889 Act 52 & 53 Vict. c. 44 s. 1 (note) Punishment for ill-treatment and neglect of children.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVII. 7/1 Numberless cases of neglect and ill-treatment went unpunished.
1968 J. Lock Lady Policeman xiv. 122 Some dealt frequently with pretty horrifying neglect cases.
1988 Church Times 28 Oct. 5/2 In Sunday schools and youth clubs there may be children who are experiencing neglect or abuse.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > fine > [noun] > on seaman
neglect1867
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 495 Neglect, a charge not exceeding £3, from the wages of a seaman, in the Complete Book, for any part of the ship's stores lost overboard, or damaged, from his gross carelessness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† neglectadj.
Obsolete.
1. Neglected. Only in predicative use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > neglectful > neglected
unlookedc1330
unservedc1350
unasservedc1400
uncherishedc1400
neglect?a1425
unkept?a1425
neglected1570
carelessa1593
neglectful1595
uncared-for1597
untended1598
silenced1609
disregarded1668
colda1701
unministereda1744
unfostered1744
unkempt1848
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 163 Þus, arguyng bi fallace of þe antecedent, þis maner maistrye is neglecte or dispised.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 41 Other spaces of tymes be neglecte betwene..the endes off man reignenge and begynnenges of men folowenge.
1531 W. Tyndale Answere Mores Dialoge f. xliiij And then because it shuld not be neglecte or lefte vndone, an hier officerr..came aboute..at tymes conuenient.
1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips Pref. sig. A.viiiv The Romane Empire..laye neglecte without an Emperoure.
1595 L. Bryskett Mourning Muse Thestylis in E. Spenser Colin Clouts come Home sig. G4v Her haire hung lose neglect, about her shoulders twaine.
2. Negligent. Chiefly in predicative use. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > negligent
yemelesc897
recklesseOE
unshrivel1340
lashc1374
negligenta1382
laches1418
lachous1484
forgetful1526
neglect1603
wreaklessa1616
slighty1658
relasch1663
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. xxv. 83 It represents a kinde of..neglect carelesnesse of arte.
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron iii. iii. f. 85v The man..knew nothing hereof, and therefore was the more neglect and carelesse.
1696 in W. Hector Judicial Rec. Renfrewshire (1876) I. 49 The said defr. being most remiss and negligt in his deuties.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
neglectv.
/nᵻˈɡlɛkt/, U.S. /nəˈɡlɛk(t)/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > omit, pass over
forgetc950
overhipc1300
overgoa1382
overpassa1382
passa1382
to step over ——1387
to pass overc1390
overslipa1400
overskipc1400
overslide1488
overstartc1500
neglect1511
skip1531
to pass by1560
intermit1570
leap1600
overjump1604
jump1749
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being exclusive > exclude [verb (transitive)] > omit or leave out
letc900
overleapOE
forletc1200
beleavec1275
overpassa1382
to cut outc1400
overskipc1400
omisec1425
omit1439
to leave outc1450
obmise1490
neglect1511
skip1531
obmit?1541
enterlesse1548
intermit1570
prevade1641
waive1651
suppress1826
1511 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1902) IV. 174 For thre trigentale missis neglexit be the said dene in his last compt.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) I. 77 In all new buildinges these vaultes are altogether neclected.
1646 S. Danforth Almanack 12 Julius Caesar..ordeined that the Politicall yeare should consist of 365 dayes, and 6 houres, which 6 houres..were neglected the 3 common yeares and joyned to the 4th year.
2. transitive. To disregard; to pay little or no respect or attention to; to slight, leave unnoticed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > pay little attention, slight
neglect1529
flightc1571
slight1600
slighten1605
forgo1858
cold-shoulder1872
to shrug (something) off or aside1909
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > [verb (transitive)] > by disregarding
forsee971
forgendera1387
neglect1529
unregard1545
misregard1582
slight1600
slighten1605
cold-shoulder1872
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. (1557) 257/2 Fastyng, prayer, & such other thynges, he taught them to neglecte and set at nought as vayne & vnfrutefull ceremonies.
1581 B. Rich Farewell Militarie Profession sig. T.iv She would neuer..neclect that care and regarde to her honour, whiche all women..ought to haue.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 37 Every one hath within his own brest a certaine law of nature, the which he may not neglect.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 200 This my long sufferance..They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste. View more context for this quotation
1712 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 8 Dec. (1965) I. 174 If his kindnesse is sincere, tis too valuable to be neglected.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 36 Some nobler minds a law respect, That none shall with impunity neglect.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xix. 354 That noble discourse had been neglected by the generation to which it was addressed.
1868 Ld. Tennyson Spiteful Let. 6 O little bard, is your lot so hard, If men neglect your pages?
1908 E. M. Forster Room with View ii. 23 If it is Mrs. Grundy who is troubling you, I do assure you that you can neglect the good person.
1969 J. Gross Rise & Fall Man of Lett. iv. 107 The dramatists, too, are neglected: no Marlowe or Ben Jonson (although Sheridan scrapes by, perhaps because he was also a politician).
1987 R. Ellmann Oscar Wilde i. 21 He did not cram for examinations, and read the prescribed texts for pleasure..neglecting what he found boring.
3. transitive. To fail to perform, to leave undone; to fail to discharge (a duty), or take (a precaution).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > not do [verb (transitive)] > leave undone or fail to carry out
letc900
overheaveOE
forsakec1175
missa1350
leavea1375
fail1393
forgeta1400
omit?c1422
pretermit1475
neglect1533
to dispense with1559
permit1567
overrun1583
slip1592
default1649
to miss of ——1658
to fail of1723
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xiii. 73 Þe rite and cerymonis of divine religioun was neclectit.
1548 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 412 The said officers so necglectinge ther deuties to paye and forfait xx. li.
1612 For Colony Virginea Britannia 25 If any Lanceprizado, Corporall, or superior officer shall neglect his or their duty, [etc.].
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 738 In Heaven, Where honour due and reverence none neglects . View more context for this quotation
a1694 J. Mason Sel. Remains (1828) iv. 97 If others neglect their duty to you, be sure that you perform yours to them.
1719 Bp. Robinson in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Colonial Church: Virginia (1870) I. 200 If we neglect our duty in that part.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 54 Such as commit any public wrongs, and transgress or neglect their duty.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci v. ii. 87 That..I should have neglected So trivial a precaution.
1896 Law Times Rep. 73 615/1 There was evidence that Judges habitually performed this duty, though he sometimes neglected it.
1899 J. London In Far Country in Overland Monthly June 544/1 Cuthfert neglected his morning ablutions.
1917 E. Wharton Summer vii. 89 The youngest Targatt girl..came trailing in late and neglected her task to peer through the window at the Sollas boy.
1993 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 7 Oct. 54/1 Hogarth's placeseeking padre neglects his duty to the vulnerable country girl.
4.
a. transitive. To fail to give proper attention or care to; to fail to take due care of; to leave unattended to or uncared for.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > be careless or heedless of [verb (transitive)] > neglect
foryemeOE
misyemeOE
miswitec1225
slidec1386
to leave behinda1393
mistendc1400
forgo?a1500
to let go1535
neglecta1538
to leave out in the cold1886
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 19 Yf men know certaynly what ys the true commyn wele.., they wold not so neclecte hyt.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxxijv Al these thinges neglected.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 216 A leuell naturally fertil, but now neglected.
1668 R. Steele Husbandmans Calling (1672) x. 272 The Philosopher could say, he had rather neglect his means, than his mind.
1759 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful (ed. 2) Pref. p. iv Whilst the mind is intent on the general scheme of things, some particular parts must be neglected.
1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 368 I seek to improve, At least neglect not..The mind He gave me.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 76 Heaven doth interpose to do What ye neglect.
1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues I. 71 Their own education..has been neglected.
1913 W. Cather O Pioneers! ii. iii. 98 Politics being the natural field for such talents, he neglects his farm to attend conventions and to run for county offices.
1937 Life 26 July 63/1 (advt.) The car owner who neglects this vital element generally gets a none-too-gentle reminder in the form of stiff repair bills.
1981 M. Moorcock Byzantium Eaters v. 92 I had neglected my work at the very time I should have been concentrating on it.
b. transitive. To withdraw attention from, to fail to care for or look after adequately, to give less than the proper amount of attention, care, support, etc., to (a person, esp. a child or other dependent).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > ill-treatment > ill-treat [verb (transitive)] > by neglecting
neglect1556
1556 J. Olde tr. R. Gwalther Antichrist f. 4v Neclecting them that he hathe taken charge of.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Matt. vi. 26 God that made you better than they, will not neglect you.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 212 To give them [sc. children] up to be Manag'd by those People, who have none of that needful Affection..is to Neglect them in the highest Degree.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xlix. 186 You did not neglect the magistrate, while you flattered the man.
1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford III. ix. 137 I must so far neglect my dear father as to gain time for writing what may support us.
1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. xxiii. 312 Henchard had neglected her all these days, after compromising her..in the past.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xv. 166 Mr. Phillips isn't any good at all as a teacher... He neglects the young fry and puts all his time on those big scholars.
1955 L. G. Housden Prevention Cruelty to Children ii. iv. 221 Most of the 97,835 children helped by the Society's Inspectors in the twelve months ending February 1953 had been neglected.
1971 Reader's Digest Family Guide Law 268/2 If a husband fails to give his wife a reasonable amount of housekeeping money, he can be shown to have wilfully neglected her and any children of the marriage.
1988 K. Amis Difficulties with Girls v. 66 He was brutal to me. And he neglected me in the most shameful fashion. Never any time for me.
5.
a. transitive. To fail through carelessness or negligence to do something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > be careless or negligent [verb (intransitive)] > omit doing or to do something through carelessness
neglect1548
1548 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 412 If the officers necglecte to put the same person to execucion.
1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 90 Qvhy neclect ȝe to ministrat this haly sacrament to the seik?
a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) viii. i. f. 247v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) Be oure awin sleuth..we neclect to abiect the ȝoke of seruitute.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 95 They have neglected to preserve it.
1674 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 276 Neglecting to take any Securities upon ye passing of Wooll.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. ii. 38 Which Consequences they for the most part neglect to consider,..beforehand.
1786 E. Burke Speech against W. Hastings in Wks. XII. 208 The said Hastings..did neglect to write a formal letter to Lieutenant Anderson.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iii. i. 42 If they neglect To punish crime.
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xlix. 518 No traveler ever neglects to flourish that fragment of news in his letters.
1909 G. Stein Three Lives (1970) 121 You know I certainly can't be neglecting always to be with everybody just to see you.
1936 D. Carnegie How to win Friends & influence People i. iii. 58 They were so busy with their own affairs that they neglected to write home and paid no attention whatever to their mother's frantic letters.
1980 W. Abish How German is It? iii. xii. 105 She's just irritable because I neglected to inform her in advance that you were coming.
b. transitive. With verbal noun as object: to omit (doing something). Now rare.
ΚΠ
a1622 E. Jocelin Mothers Legacie (1624) 19 If thou once yeeld to neglect praying to God, but one halfe houre, when that time comes thou shalt finde thy selfe farre more unapt, and thy heart more dull to pray than before.
1671 A. Behn Amorous Prince iv. iv. 60 Let me alone for a tale, And a lye at the end on't; which shall not over much Incense him, nor yet make him neglect coming.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 203. ⁋1 I did not neglect spending a considerable Time in the Crowd.
1729 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. (ed. 2) x. 195 It is not uncommon for Persons..intirely to neglect looking into the State of their Affairs.
1776 J. Bentham Fragm. on Govt. v. §7 185 God, we are to suppose, will punish them if they neglect pursuing it.
1814 C. Jones Hoyle's Games Improved (new ed.) 161 [article Cassino] Do not neglect sweeping the board when opportunity offers.
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch II. xxvi. 62 Mr Wrench did not neglect sending the usual white parcels.
1925 R. Spears in B. C. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1924 196 I'd neglected providing. We hadn't any money.
ΚΠ
1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. F4 My Lord, I write as mine extreames requirde, That you would labour my deliuerie: If you neglect, my life is desperate.
1609 Bible (Douay) I. Judges xviii. 9 Neglect not, slacke not: let vs goe.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. x. 42 To neglect, is to Dishonour.
1664 K. Philips To Mr. J. B. 64 I may that Royalty of Soul expect, That can at once both pardon and neglect.
1789 J. Moore Zeluco I. iv. 25 Adding, that if he neglected, she should certainly imagine that something terrible had happened.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. xiii. 278 The rest of the money must be paid at York within six days. If he neglects, I will have the unbelieving villain's head.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > be careless or heedless of [verb (transitive)] > neglect > cause something to be neglected
neglect1597
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. iv. 24 I hope My absence doth neglect no great designes. View more context for this quotation
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Little French Lawyer iii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. I3/2 His fighting has neglected all our businesse.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1597
adj.?a1425
v.1511