English
negligent
Negligent comes from Latin neglegēns ‘being indifferent to, disregarding, ignoring,…’, 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’next step skipped: Latin negligō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegēnsas negligēns‘being indifferent to, disregarding, ignoring, slighting, neglecting, negligent’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400negligent
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500necligent
- Englishtodaynegligent
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’next step skipped: Latin negligō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEneglegēnsas negligēns‘being indifferent to, disregarding, ignoring, slighting, neglecting, negligent’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400negligent
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500necligent
- Englishtodaynegligent
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, gynecologist, etiology, entomology, alexia, lexis, apologia, bacteriology, syllogism, lignite, bacteriologist, lignin, 154 more
through Proto-Italic *legō
selection, intellectual, intelligence, intelligent, elector, ineligible, legionnaire, legionella, legionary, 19 more
through Latin lego ‘to collect, gather, bring together, catch’
election, collection, college, lesson, select, collective, elite, legacy, lecture, elect, colleague, eligible, collector, legend, delegation, coil, legion, elegant, delegate, collegiate, cull, legible, legation, lectern, diligent, legate, lector, collegium, ineligibility, 27 more
through Latin neglegō ‘disregard, neglect’
Today it means
adj Careless or inattentive.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- / negligent