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.