NEGLIGENCE

negligence. Negligence, n. a habit of acting carelessly, folly

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Neg″li‐gence (?), n. [[F. négligence, L. negligentia.]] The quality or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness. 2. 2. An act or instance of negligence or carelessness.
remarking his beauties, . . . I must also point out his negligences and defects. Blair. 3. 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. — 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.