I. ni-ˈglekt transitive verb
Etymology: Latin neglectus, past participle of neglegere, neclegere, from nec- not (akin to ne- not) + legere to gather — more at no , legend
Date: 1529
1. : to give little attention or respect to : disregard
2. : to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
• ne·glect·er noun
Synonyms:
neglect , disregard , ignore , overlook , slight , forget mean to pass over without giving due attention. neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention
habitually neglected his studies
disregard suggests voluntary inattention
disregarded the wishes of his family
ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious
ignored the snide remark
overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care
in my rush I overlooked a key example
slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting
slighted several major authors in her survey
forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind
forget what others say
II. noun
Date: 1588
1. : an act or instance of neglecting something
2. : the condition of being neglected