Neglect — Defs

01 v. t. 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 om…

imp. & p. p. Neglected; p. pr. & vb. n. Neglecting

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.” — Shak.

“This, my long suffering and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste.” — Milton.
2.
To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight; as, to neglect strangers.

Syn. To slight; overlook; disregard; disesteem; contemn. See Slight.

02 n. Omission of proper attention; avoidance or disregard of duty, from heedlessness, indifference, or willfulness; failure to do, use, or heed …

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.” — Milton.
2.
Omission of attention or civilities; slight; as, neglect of strangers.
3.
Habitual carelessness; negligence.
“Age breeds neglect in all.” — Denham.
4.
The state of being disregarded, slighted, or neglected.
“Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect.” — Prior.

Phrases & compounds

benign neglect — A deliberate policy of minimizing public discussion of a controversial issue [e.g. by the president] on the theory that excessive discussion in itself is harmful or counterproductive.

Syn. Negligence; inattention; disregard; disesteem; remissness; indifference. See Negligence.