negator 
negator (nf'-gii'lnr), . [= Sp. P>,'. nrgmlnr = 
It. iii-i/iitiin; < MJ. nt-gntin; denier, < I,. IK-I/HI-I . 
deny : see negate.] Our who negates or denies. 
Sects (in Russia! with less horrihlr jiractlcen are numer- 
ous. One such eiills itself Iln- .\v</"'"r, and Its members 
keep themselves aloof from all men. Science, XI. 178. 
negatory (neg'a-to-ri), . [= F. nnjatoire = Sp. 
IV- It- <.'/"'<"'<<>.< LL. wgatorius, negatory, < 
r, a denier, < L. ncyare, deny: see ne- 
^. ] Expressing denial or negation; nega- 
tive. [Rare.] 
On FrlJay, the lM.li of July, 1791, the National Assembly 
decides; In what nfjalnrii manner we know. 
Carlyle, French Eev., I. id. 9. 
negert, An obsolete form of nu/gcr%. 
neght, neghet, mlr. and t>. Middle English 
forms of nii/li. 
neghent, a. and . A Middle English form of 
Ilill/'. 
neghstt, <i A Middle English form of next. 
II ii in pole. 
neglect (neg-lekf), v. t. [< L. neglectiu, pp. of 
neglegere, negligere, neelegere (> It. negligere = 
F. negliger), not heed, not attend to, be regard- 
less of, < nee, not, nor (see negate), + legere, 
gather: see legend. Cf. collect, etc. ; also negli- 
gent, etc.] 1. To treat carelessly or heedless- 
ly ; forbear to attend to or treat with respect ; 
be remiss in attention or duty toward; pay 
little or no attention to ; slight : as, to neglect 
one's best interests ; to neglect one's friends. 
I neglect phrases, and labour wholly to Inform my read- 
er's understanding. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., To the Reader, p. 24. 
In the Netherlands the English Garrison at Alost in 
Flanders being neglected, the Governor Plgot, and the 
other Captains, for want of Pay, upon Composition yielded 
up the Town to the Spaniard. Baker, Chronicles, p. 361. 
When men do not only neglect Religion, but reproach 
and contemn it. Stillingjteet, Sermons, II. Iv. 
The garden has been suffered to run to waste, and is 
only the more beautiful for having been neglected. 
Macaulay, in Trevelyan, I. 824. 
2. To overlook or omit; disregard: as, the dif- 
ference is so small that it may be neglected. 
3. To omit to do or perform; let slip; leave 
undone ; fail through needlessness to do or ill 
doing (something) : often with an infinitive as 
object. 
If thuu neglect'st or dost unwillingly 
What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps. 
Shale., Tempest^ L 2. 368. 
In heaven, 
Where honour due and reverence none neglects. 
Milton, P. L., lit 738. 
4f. To cause to bo neglected or deferred. 
I have been long a sleeper ; but I hope 
My absence iloth neglect no great designs, 
Which by my presence might have been concluded. 
Shale., Rich. III., ill. 4. 25. 
= 8yn. Neglect, Disregard, Slight. Slight always expresses 
intention; it applies to persons or things. Neglect and 
disregard apply more often to things, and may or may 
not express intention ; disregard is more often Intentional 
than neglect. Only neglect may be followed by an infini- 
tive : as, to neglect to write a letter ; among things it gen- 
erally applies to action that is needed, while disregard 
commonly applies to failure to heed or notice : as, to dis- 
regard counsel, a hint, a request, the lessons of experi- 
ence, the signs of coining rain ; to neglect a duty. See neg- 
ligent and negligence. 
neglect (neg-lekf), n. [< L. neglectiis, a neg- 
lecting, < neglegere, pp. neglectus, neglect: see 
ne;/lcct, .] 1. The act of neglecting; the act 
of treating with slight attention, heedlessuess, 
or disrespect some person or thing that requires 
attention, care, or respect. 2. Omission; over- 
sight; the not doing a thing that should or might 
be done. 
Without blame, 
Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. 
Milton, Comns, 1. 510. 
3. Disregard ; slight ; omission of due attention 
or civilities. 
I have perceived a most faint neglect of late ; which I have 
rather blamed as my own jealous curiosity than as a very 
pretence and purpose of unkindness. Shale., Lear, i. 4. 73. 
There are several little neglects, that one might have told 
him of, which I noted in reading it hastily. 
Gray, Letters, I. 174. 
4. Negligence ; habitual want of regard. 
l;i -^ iie my poor Remains from vile Neqlect, 
With Virgin Honours let my Herse be deckt, 
And decent Kinblem. 
Prior, Henry and Emma, 1. 616. 
5. The state of being disregarded Gross, ordi- 
nary, and slight neglect. See negligence, 2. =Svn. 1. 
Failure, default, heedlessnesa. 1, 3, and 4. llrmusness, 
etc. See negligence. 
neglect (neg-lekf), . [= OF. neglfct. < L. ne- 
</lectus,pp.: see the verb.] Neglected. 
It should not be neglect or left undone. 
Tyndale, Aus. to Sir T. More, etc. (Parker Soc., 1850), p. 71. 
30r.ll 
neglectable (neg-lek'ta-bl), a. [< 
-/./-. ct 1 . iirt/ltTtilili:] That can be neglected 
or passed by; that may be omitted or not taken 
into account, as a force or a consideration, in 
an estimate, calculation, problem, etc., without 
vitiating the conclusions reached; of little or 
no moment or importance ; negligible. 
And subsequent experiments proved that all of these 
{causes of the loss of energy) are practically neijlectaNe. 
Proc. Roy. Soc., XXXVIII. 42. 
neglectedness (neg-lek'ted-nes), n. [< neglect- 
ill, pp. of 111 ijlift, n., + -ness.] The state of be- 
ing neglected; a neglected condition, 
neglecter (neg-lek'ter), n. [< neglect + -eri.] 
One who neglects. 
The chase, or any other pastime which occurred, made 
1 1. ilbci t a frequent neglecter of hours. 
Scott, Monastery, xlll. 
neglectful (neg-lekt'ful). a. [< neglect + -ful.] 
1. Characterized by neglect, inattention, or in- 
difference to something which ought to be or is 
worthy of being done, attended to, or regarded; 
heedless; inattentive; careless: used either ab- 
solutely, or with of before the object of neg- 
lect: as, he is very neglectful; neglectful ofoue rs 
duties. 
His lovely daughter, lovelier In her tears, . . . 
Silent went next, neylect,fnl of her charms. 
Goldsmith, lies. VIL, 1. 377. 
The wearers of the crown have not been neglectful of 
their duty to visit Norway and to reside in Chnstiania. 
Nineteenth Century, XXIII. 63. 
2. Indicating neglect, slight, or indifference. 
A cold and neglectful countenance. 
Locke, Thoughts on Education, 57. 
= Syn. 1. Remits, etc. See negligent. 
neglectfully (neg-lekt'ful-i), adv. In a neglect- 
ful manner; with neglect; with inattention; 
with carelessness or negligence, 
neglectfulness (neg-lekt'ful-nes), n. The state 
or quality of being neglectful. 
neglectible(neg-lek'ti-bl),. [< neglect + -Me.} 
Neglectable. 
neglectingly (neg-lek'ting-li), adv. [< neglect- 
ing, ppr. of neglect, t'., + Wy 2 .] With neglect; 
carelessly; heedlessly; discourteously. 
Answer'd neglectingly, I know not what. 
Hl,ak.,\ Hen. IV., L 3. 52. 
See how neglectingly he passes by me ! 
Beau, and Fl., Scornful Lady, Iv. 1. 
neglection (neg-lek'shon), n. [= It. neglezione, 
< L. neglcctio(n-), a neglecting, < neglegere, pp. 
neglcctus, neglect: see neglect, .] Neglect; 
negligence. 
And this neglection of degree it Is 
That by a pace goes backward, with a purpose 
It hath to climb. Shot., 1. and C., L S. 127. 
neglectivet (neg-lek'tiv), a. [< neglect + -ice.] 
Inattentive; regardless; neglectful. 
It Is not for us to affect too much cheapness and neglec- 
tive homeliness in our evangelical devotions. 
/:/>. Hall, Holy Decency in the Worship of God. 
It Is wonder they should be so neglective of their own 
children. Fuller, Holy War, p. 202. 
negligee (neg-le-zha'), n. and a. [F. negligee, 
fern, of utglige, pp. of nfyligcr, neglect: com- 
monly used without reference to gender: see 
neglect, t 1 .] I. n. 1. Easy and unceremonious 
dress in general: as, she appeared in negligee. 
2. A form of loose gown worn by women in the 
eighteenth century. 
He fancied twenty Cupids prepared for execution In 
every folding of her white negligee. Goldsmith. 
3. See negligee necklace, below. 
n. a. Carelessly arranged or attired; un- 
ceremoniously dressed ; careless. 
I was up early, and going out to walk in my night-cloak 
and night-gown, T met Mr. Fish going a hunting. I should 
not have been rid of him quickly if he had not thought 
himself a little too nfgliyt ; his hair was not powdered. 
Dorothy Osborne, Letters (ed. Parry), p. 246. 
Negligee beads, beads (for a necklace or a similar orna- 
ment) of Irregular form not shaped by art, especially of 
coral. Negligee necklace, a coral necklace of which 
the beads are irregular fragments, pierced for stringing 
without other preparation. 
negligence (neg'li-jens). n. [< ME. negligence, 
iK-rligi ;/<<. iii'i'liigi'H/i, < OF. ni'glii/enee, F. ndgli- 
gence = Sp. Pg. negligencia = It. negligemin, 
i>f<lligen;a, <L. neglegentia, neclegentia, careless- 
ness, heedlessness, < neglegen(t-)s, careless, neg- 
ligent: see i negligent.] 1. The fact or the char- 
acter of being negligent or neglectful ; deficien- 
cy in or lack of care, exactness, or application ; 
the omitting to do, or a habit of omitting to do, 
things which ought to be done, or the doing of 
such things without sufficient attention and 
carp ; carelessness ; heedless disregard of some 
duty. 
negligent 
I trnw men wi.lde deme It nedigence 
If I foryt'teto telle the dixiM-u-'r 
(if Ihcscus. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale (ed. Morris), I. 1028. 
Traitor, thy lif lost and goo ! 
I!y thy neclygens my moder haue lotte ! 
Rom. o/Partenay (E. E. T. fi.)> 1. 48M. 
She let It drop by negligence, 
And, to the advantage, I, being here, took 't up. 
Shot., Othello, ill. :i. 311. 
2. Specifically, in lair, the failure to exercise 
that degree of care which the law requires for 
the protection of those interests of otherpersong 
which may be injuriously affected by the want 
of such care. If such failure directly results In Injury 
to the Interests of another person, who aid not by his own 
negligence contribute to the result, the negligence Is ac- 
(WMNl negligence. If the failure to exercise due care Is 
wilful, liability is incurred Irrespective of contributory 
negligence, but the failure may still be treated at theop- 
tlon of the person injure.! as mere negligence, so far at 
least as concerns the liability of the person actually guilty 
of It. and In some cases also for the purpose of homing his 
employer liable. By a rule of law which obtains in some 
of the I'nited States, the person Injured may recover not- 
withstanding his own negligence If it was slight as com- 
pared with that of the defendant (cnrnparatitt negligence). 
Cimtributive or contributory negligence is negligence, on 
the part of the person injured, which contributed to pro* 
duce the injury. Gross negligence Is the failure to ex- 
ercise even slight care, and is usually measured by refer- 
ence to that degree of care which every person of ordinary 
sense, however Inattentive, takes of his own interests. 
Ordinary negligence is the failure to exercise ordinary 
care, usually measured by reference to that degree of care 
which a man of common prudence and capable of govern- 
ing a family takes of his own interests. Slight negligence Is 
the failure to exercise a high degree of care, usually mea- 
sured by reference to that diligence with which a circum- 
spect and thoughtful person would attend to his own Inter- 
ests. Whether these three degrees are properdlstinctions 
to be observed as a test of liability for damages is much 
disputed, but there Is no question that the law fully recog. 
iii/.es in a general way the corresponding degrees of care 
as required of persons in various different relations, nor 
that degrees of neglect must be noticed by the law In de- 
termining other questions than that of liability for dam- 
ages, as good faith, fidelity, etc. 
3. Lack of attention to niceties or convention- 
alities, especially of dress, manner, or style; 
disregard of appearances; easy indifference of 
manner. 
Many there are who seem to slight all Care, 
And with a pleasing Negligence ensnare. 
Gangrene, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love. 
Horace still charms with graceful negligence, 
And without method talks us into sense. 
Pope, Essay on Criticism, I. 653. 
4. An act of neglectfulness ; an instance of neg- 
ligence or carelessness. 
Remarking his beauties, . 
negligences and defects. 
5. Contempt; disregard; slight; neglect. 
To this point I stand, 
That both the worlds I give to negligence, 
Let come what comes. Shirt., Hamlet, Iv. 5. 134. 
6. A kind of wig in fashion for morning dress 
about the middle of the eighteenth century. 
-Byn. 1. Heedlessness, inconslderateness. thoughtless- 
ness. 1 and 2. Negligence, Neglect, Remissnets, Inattention, 
Inadvertence, Oversight, Indi/erence. As contrasted with 
neglect, negligence generally expresses the habit or trait, 
and neglect the act. Inadvertence and oversight expressly 
mean that there was no Intention of neglect; indiference 
lies back of action in the failure to care, such failure being 
generally blameworthy. Itetnissness is careless neglect of 
duty. Inattention is a failure, generally culpable, to bring 
the mind to the subject. See neglect, v. t., and negligent. 
negligent (neg'li-jent), a. [< ME. negligent, < 
OF. negligent, F. negligent = Sp. Pg. negligente 
= It. negligente, nigiigente, < L. neglcgcn(t-), ne- 
gligen(t-)s, ppr. of neglegere, nenligere, neglect : 
see neglect.] 1. Characterized by negligence 
or by neglectful habits; neglectful; careless; 
heedless ; apt or accustomed to omit what ought 
to be done, or to do it in a careless or heedless 
manner: followed by of when the object of the 
negligence is specified: as, a negligent man; a 
man negligent of his duties. 
Thou must be counted 
A servant grafted in my serious trust 
And therein negligent. Shale., W. T., L 2. 247. 
He was very negligent himself e, and rather so of his per- 
son, and of a philosophic temper. 
Evelyn, Diary, March 22, 1675. 
2. Indicative of easy indifference or of disre- 
gard of conventionalities. 
All loose her negligent attire, 
All loose her golden hair. 
Scott, L. of L. M., 1. 10. 
Negligent escape, the escape of a prisoner without the 
knowledge or consent of the sheriff, as distinguished from 
I must also point out his 
niair. 
escape by permission, called a voluntary escape. The Im- 
portance of the distinction is in the right of the sheriff to 
retake the prisoner, and in the fact that in case of mesne 
process retaking before suit brought by the creditor against 
the sheriff is a defense : whereas for a voluntary escape the 
sheriff is liable absolutely. = Syn. Negligent, Neglectful, Re- 
miss, Heedless, Thoughtless, inattentive, regardless, Indif- 
ferent, slack. Of the first five words, remits is the weak- 
