Etymologically
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neglego

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnɛɡ.ɫɛ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɛɡ.le.ɡo][1]

Forms

neglegō (present infinitive neglegere, perfect active neglēxī, supine neglēctum); third conjugation[1] It is also spelled neclegō and, less correctly, negligō.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from ⟨nec-⟩ “not” and legō “to gather, choose”, so “not to pick up, not to heed”.[2][1] De Vaan considers it a relatively recent compound of ⟨legere⟩ “to collect”, and finds a link with Ancient Greek ἀλέγω (alégō, “to heed”) problematic.[4] Wiktionary also gives a Proto-Italic ⟨*legō⟩ “to care”.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, “to disregard”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to regard as of no consequence, disregard, as in Plautus, and to do nothing about, neglect, as in Terence, who also uses it of failing to respect people and the gods.[2] In Cicero it meant to do without, and to fail to respect orders and laws.[2]

Its participle neglēctus gave English neglect in the 1520s, “to omit to do”, and its present participle gave English negligent through negligentia.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of neglecting.[2][5]
  • 1520s – English neglect is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To disregard, ignore.[2]
  2. To neglect, overlook.[2]
  3. To fail to respect.[2]
  4. To do without.[2]

Word family

  • neglectim
  • neglēctiō
  • neglēctor
  • neglēctus
  • neglegēntia
  • neglēctē
  • neglegēns
  • neglegenter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com