English
negligence
Negligence comes from Latin neglegēns ‘disregarding, neglecting’, from lego ‘to collect, gather, bring together, catch’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leǵ-‘to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to speak by carefully selecting one's words’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*léǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*legōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElego‘to collect, gather, bring together, catch’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegō‘disregard, neglect’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegēns‘disregarding, neglecting’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegentia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400negligence
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500necligence
- Englishearliest quotation 1946negligence
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leǵ-‘to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to speak by carefully selecting one's words’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*léǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*legōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElego‘to collect, gather, bring together, catch’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegō‘disregard, neglect’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegēns‘disregarding, neglecting’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegentia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400negligence
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500necligence
- Englishearliest quotation 1946negligence
Earliest quotation: 1946, and February, A Series of False Signals: “The Woodwalton signalman, Rose, who was severely censured in…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- ‘to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning…’
technology, collect, logic, apology, catalogue, trilogy, sociology, analogy, terminology, physiology, pathology, logos, astrology, monologue, leach, prologue, pathologist, epilogue, archaeologist, logistic, lexicon, eulogy, cosmology, lexical, etymology, epistemology, homologous, dialectic, entomology, gynecologist, etiology, alexia, lexis, apologia, bacteriology, lignite, syllogism, lignin, bacteriologist, 153 more
through Proto-Italic *legō
selection, intellectual, intelligence, intelligent, elector, ineligible, legionnaire, legionella, legionary, 18 more
through Latin lego ‘to collect, gather, bring together, catch’
election, collection, college, lesson, select, collective, elite, legacy, lecture, elect, eligible, colleague, legend, collector, elegant, delegation, coil, legion, delegate, collegiate, cull, diligent, legible, legation, lectern, legate, lector, collegium, ineligibility, 26 more
through Latin neglegō ‘disregard, neglect’
Today it means
noun The state of being negligent.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- / negligence