Etymologically
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neglegenter

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Forms

neglegenter (comparative neglegentius, superlative neglegentissimē)[1] Also spelled nec-.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin neglegēns (“careless”) + -ter, from the present participle of neglegō (“to neglect”).[2][3] De Vaan takes neglegō for a fairly recent compound formed with legō (“to collect”), which he traces to Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-e/o- (“to collect”); he finds a link with Ancient Greek ἀλέγω (alégō, “to heed”) problematic.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero.[5]

Semantic evolution

It is without due care, carelessly, and also without discrimination.[2] Köbler finds it in Burgundian law, the Bible, councils and inscriptions too.[5] The comparative is ⟨neglegentius⟩ and the superlative ⟨neglegentissimē⟩.[2][1]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Without due care, carelessly, heedlessly; indifferently.[2][1]
  2. Without discrimination.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de