Failure to take proper care in doing something, especially when that care is legally or morally expected. It often leads to accidents or harm that could have been avoided.
From Latin 'negligentia' meaning 'carelessness', from 'neglegere' meaning 'to disregard', made of 'nec' (not) + 'legere' (to pick up, pay attention). It came into English through Old French legal and moral vocabulary.
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