v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Neglected; p. pr. & vb. n. Neglecting. ] [ L. neglectus, p. p. of neglegere (negligere) to disregard, neglect, the literal sense prob. being, not to pick up; nec not, nor (fr. ne not + -que, a particle akin to Goth. -h, -uh, and prob. to E. who; cf. Goth. nih nor) + L. legere to pick up, gather. See No, adv., Legend, Who. ] 1. Not to attend to with due care or attention; to forbear one's duty in regard to; to allow to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, etc.; to omit; to disregard; to slight; as, to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts. [ 1913 Webster ]

I hope
My absence doth neglect no great designs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

This, my long suffering and my day of grace,
Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight; as, to neglect strangers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To slight; overlook; disregard; disesteem; contemn. See Slight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. neglectus. See Neglect, v. ] 1. Omission of proper attention; avoidance or disregard of duty, from heedlessness, indifference, or willfulness; failure to do, use, or heed anything; culpable disregard; as, neglect of business, of health, of economy. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tell thee sadly, shepherd, without blame,
Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Omission of attention or civilities; slight; as, neglect of strangers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Habitual carelessness; negligence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Age breeds neglect in all. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of being disregarded, slighted, or neglected. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Negligence; inattention; disregard; disesteem; remissness; indifference. See Negligence. [ 1913 Webster ]

benign neglect A deliberate policy of minimizing public discussion of a controversial issue [ e.g. by the president ] on the theory that excessive discussion in itself is harmful or counterproductive. [ PJC ]

n. The state of being neglected. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who neglects. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of neglect; heedless; careless; negligent; inattentive; indifferent. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cold and neglectful countenance. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though the Romans had no great genius for trade, yet they were not entirely neglectful of it. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Neg*lect"ful*ly, adv. -- Neg*lect"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Carelessly; heedlessly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. neglectio. ] The state of being negligent; negligence. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Neglectful. [ R. ] “Neglective of their own children.” Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]