from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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2. An act or instance of negligence or carelessness.
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remarking his beauties, . . . I must also point out
his negligences and defects. --Blair.
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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.
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{Contributory negligence}. See under {Contributory}.
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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.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Contributory \Con*trib"u*to*ry\, a.
Contributing to the same stock or purpose; promoting the same
end; bringing assistance to some joint design, or increase to
some common stock; contributive. --Milton.
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Bonfires of contributory wood. --Chapman.
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{Contributory negligence} (Law), negligence by an injured
party, which combines with the negligence of the injurer
in producing the injury, and which bars recovery when it
is the proximate cause of the injury. --Wharton.
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