English Dictionary: Negligence | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for Negligence | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Negligence \Neg"li*gence\, n. [F. n[82]gligence, L. negligentia.] 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. --Blair. 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}. Syn: Neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight. Usage: {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. |