Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NEG'LI-GENCE, n. [L. negligentia.]

1. Neglect; omission to do; more generally,
2. Habitual omission of that which ought to be done, or a habit of omitting to do things, either from carelessness or design. Negligence is usually the child of sloth or laziness, and the parent of disorders in business, often of poverty.