/di ling"kweuhn see/ , n. , pl. delinquencies .
1. failure in or neglect of duty or obligation; dereliction; default: delinquency in payment of dues.
2. wrongful, illegal, or antisocial behavior. Cf. juvenile delinquency .
3. any misdeed, offense, or misdemeanor.
4. something, as a debt, that is past due or otherwise delinquent.
[ 1630-40; delinquentia fault, crime, equiv. to L delinquent- (s. of delinquens, prp. of delinquere to do wrong, equiv. to de- DE- + linquere to leave) + -ia n. suffix; see -ENCY ]