English
negligible
Negligible comes from Latin neglegō ‘to neglect’, 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‘to neglect’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900*negligibilisreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1962negligible
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‘to neglect’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900*negligibilisreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1962negligible
Earliest quotation: 1962, Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution. 1789-1848: “Only unrealistic dreamers can suggest that Louis XVI might…”
Formed from negligence/negligent + -ible
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, prologue, epilogue, leach, pathologist, eulogy, archaeologist, cosmology, logistic, lexicon, etymology, epistemology, lexical, entomology, homologous, etiology, dialectic, gynecologist, bacteriology, alexia, lexis, apologia, lignite, lignin, bacteriologist, syllogism, 153 more
through Proto-Italic *legō
selection, intelligence, intellectual, intelligent, elector, ineligible, legionnaire, legionella, legionary, 18 more
through Latin lego ‘to collect, gather, bring together, catch’
college, election, collection, lesson, select, elite, collective, legend, legacy, lecture, elect, colleague, collector, coil, delegation, elegant, delegate, eligible, legion, collegiate, cull, diligent, legation, lectern, legate, lector, legible, collegium, ineligibility, 26 more
through Latin neglegō ‘to neglect’
Today it means
adj Able to be neglected, ignored or excluded from consideration; too small or unimportant to be of concern.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- / negligible