Hypertext Webster Gateway: "derelict"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Derelict \Der"e*lict\, a. [L. derelictus, p. p. of derelinquere
to forsake wholly, to abandon; de- + relinquere to leave. See
{Relinquish}.]
1. Given up or forsaken by the natural owner or guardian;
left and abandoned; as, derelict lands.
The affections which these exposed or derelict
children bear to their mothers, have no grounds of
nature or assiduity but civility and opinion. --Jer.
Taylor.
2. Lost; adrift; hence, wanting; careless; neglectful;
unfaithful.
They easily prevailed, so as to seize upon the
vacant, unoccupied, and derelict minds of his
[Chatham's] friends; and instantly they turned the
vessel wholly out of the course of his policy.
--Burke.
A government which is either unable or unwilling to
redress such wrongs is derelict to its highest
duties. --J. Buchanan.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Derelict \Der"e*lict\, n. (Law)
(a) A thing voluntary abandoned or willfully cast away by
its proper owner, especially a ship abandoned at sea.
(b) A tract of land left dry by the sea, and fit for
cultivation or use.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
derelict
adj 1: deserted or abandoned as by an owner; "a derelict ship"
2: failing in what duty requires; "derelict (or delinquent) in
his duty"; "neglectful of his duties"; "remiss of you not
to pay your bills" [syn: {delinquent}, {neglectful}, {remiss}]
n 1: a person unable to support himself
2: a ship abandoned on the high seas [syn: {abandoned ship}]
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