2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Negligence  \Neg"li*gence\,  n.  [F.  n['e]gligence,  L. 
  negligentia.] 
  The  quality  or  state  of  being  negligent;  lack  of  due 
  diligence  or  care  omission  of  duty;  habitual  neglect; 
  heedlessness. 
 
  2.  An  act  or  instance  of  negligence  or  carelessness. 
 
  remarking  his  beauties,  .  .  .  I  must  also  point  out 
  his  negligences  and  defects.  --Blair. 
 
  3.  (Law)  The  omission  of  the  care  usual  under  the 
  circumstances,  being  convertible  with  the  Roman  culpa.  A 
  specialist  is  bound  to  higher  skill  and  diligence  in  his 
  specialty  than  one  who  is  not  a  specialist,  and  liability 
  for  negligence  varies  acordingly. 
 
  {Contributory  negligence}.  See  under  {Contributory}. 
 
  Syn:  Neglect;  inattention;  heedlessness;  disregard;  slight. 
 
  Usage:  {Negligence},  {Neglect}.  These  two  words  are  freely 
  interchanged  in  our  older  writers;  but  a  distinction 
  has  gradually  sprung  up  between  them  As  now  generally 
  used  negligence  is  the  habit,  and  neglect  the  act  of 
  leaving  things  undone  or  unattended  to  We  are 
  negligent  as  a  general  trait  of  character;  we  are 
  guilty  of  neglect  in  particular  cases,  or  in  reference 
  to  individuals  who  had  a  right  to  our  attentions. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  negligence 
  n  1:  failure  to  act  [syn:  {carelessness},  {neglect},  {nonperformance}] 
  2:  the  trait  of  neglecting  responsibilities  and  lacking  concern 
  [syn:  {neglect},  {neglectfulness}] 

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