Hypertext Webster Gateway: "dereliction"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Dereliction \Der`e*lic"tion\, n. [L. derelictio.]
1. The act of leaving with an intention not to reclaim or
resume; an utter forsaking abandonment.
Cession or dereliction, actual or tacit, of other
powers. --Burke.
2. A neglect or omission as if by willful abandonment.
A total dereliction of military duties. --Sir W.
Scott.
3. The state of being left or abandoned.
4. (Law) A retiring of the sea, occasioning a change of
high-water mark, whereby land is gained.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
dereliction
n 1: a tendency to be negligent and uncaring; "he inherited his
delinquency from his father"; "his derelictions were not
really intended as crimes"; "his adolescent protest
consisted of willful neglect of all his
responsibilities" [syn: {delinquency}, {willful neglect}]
2: willful negligence
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