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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Negligence, n. Also: neglie-, negle-; nec(g)li-, necly-, necle- and -gens, -genes. [ME. (Rolle) and e.m.E. necgligens, negligence, F. négligence (12th c.), L. neg-, necligentia, -legentia, f. negligere Neglect v.]

1. Negligence, carelessness, neglect, or an instance of these.Freq. be, in, of, throu, upoun (= through, as a result of, by) (one's) negligence.(1) 1456 Hay I. 205/9.
Na the tynsale of his saule for his negligence c1460 Thewis Wysmen 320.
For ignorans and negligens Ar ennemys till al sciens a1500 Henr. Fab. 2926 (Bann.).
It is grit negligence To [etc.] Ib. 1456. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 582. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 180/16 (Asl.).
He that … lufis negligence delitand in idilnes c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 20/15. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 21.
Neclygence 1535 Stewart 59786.
Exerceand justice oft with negligence 1549 Compl. 70/33.
Sche began to reproche them … of ther neclegenes a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun xiii. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 12/31.
Thair former necligence Ib. II. 81/3.
Quha knawing ony licht falt or negligence in thair forefatheris 1573 St. A. Kirk S. 383.
Necligence 1586 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
[The] allegit delay standis in their awin negligence a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxiv. 56.
Bot negligence, alace! excuisis nocht 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 98.
Comperit … for his necligence(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 42.
Thir … cruelteis wer cumin be necligence of Vortigern 1562-3 Winȝet II. 12/23.
Be the negligence and inordinat affectioun of ȝour hienes forebearis 1570 St. A. Kirk S. 339. 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 108.
That the fyre fell out be the said Lilias Knowis awin negligence in [etc.] — 1456 Hay I. 243/35.
Throu his negligence a1500 Henr. Fab. 40 (Makc.).
Necligens 1482–3 Perth Guildry 104 (21 Feb.).
Throw his necligens and scleuth a1500 Prestis of Peblis. 763.
Lesse than it be throw sum grit negligence a1500 Bk. Chess 1276.
All throw the negligens of his seruand 1528 Lynd. Dreme 904.
Necligence 1562-3 Winȝet I. 82/21.
Gif the barnis deceisis but baptim throw ȝour necligence or erar contempt … of Godis ordinance 1565 Smit Bronnen II. 915 n. a1578 Pitsc. I. 130/10.
Throw his sluthfull negliegence 1596 Dalr. I. 122/18. — 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
In deffaut or negligence of the wardanis 1555 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 9.
[He] in his avin neglegens tint ane hors(3) 1532 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 231.
Be fragilite, negligens and imperfectioun of knawlege I hes maid sindry … contractis 1536 Linlithgow B. Ct. 1 Dec.
Be vilfulnes or necligens 1570 Leslie 179.
Necligence 1580 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 114.
Be negligence ouirsene 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 137.
Brunt be negligence — a1500 Colk. Sow i. 426.
Multitud in negligence He[s] seldin palme of victory — c1420 Wynt. vi. 1478.
In defawt off gud defens Off wertu or off negligens a 1488 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 61.
Quhethir reklessly or of necligence a1500 Henr. Fab. 1437 (Bann.). 1560 Inverness Rec. I. 48.
Because it is of necligence and nocht of vilfulnes 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 283.
To have baptist the said barne of necligence and be persuasion [etc.] — 14.. Acts I. 90*/2.
Bot gif thru negligence it be left vndone 1428 Wemyss Chart. 57.
Necligence 1460 Hay I. 272/25. Alex. (Taym.) 281 b.
Negligence 1520 Peebles B. Rec. I. 50.
Throuch neclegens 1555–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 60.
Allowit to the compter quhilk he forȝet … throu negligence a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. ciii. 14.
Tyne nocht throw necgligence 1573 St. A. Kirk S. 383.
And yit unbaptized throwcht necligence and slewtht — 1456 Hay II. 156/28.
Mare for negligence and fragilitee of nature na for malice — 1572 Reg. Privy S. VI. 329.
[The slaughter of Henry Sandis … committed] upovn meir negligence be schot of ane dag

2. Affected heedlessness or indifference in costume. Sleife of negligence, a type of sleeve supposed to display this. 1596 Dalr. I. 93/25.
Wyde sleifes of negligence hinging doune evin to thair knies