EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

neglect

to fail to take proper care of someone or something

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "neglect" come from? It comes from Latin neglegere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "neglect" come from? It comes from Latin neglegere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Neglect’s story begins in Latin: neglegere meant “to disregard, to not pick up.” To not pick up, to disregard, from nec- (not) and legere (to gather, to pick). It reached English by 1500s as neglect. Settled as the English word for failing to take care of something. Today, neglect means to fail to take proper care of someone or something.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient neglegere "to disregard, to not pick up", to not pick up, to disregard, from nec- (not) and legere (to gather, to pick).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s neglect "to fail to take proper care of something", settled as the English word for failing to take care of something.

Browse by origin