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DictionaryRoot: legere
Latin

legere

gather, choose; read

Forms

  • leg-
  • lect- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘gathered’ or ‘chosen.’
  • -lig- — Used in some Latin compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *leg-, ‘gather; collect.’

Note

The sense ‘read’ grew from older senses of gathering and selecting.

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Houseplant droops badly beside untouched full watering can as owner walks past distracted, no lettering.
verb / noun

neglect

nih-GLEKT/nɪˈɡlekt/

Failure to give something the care or attention it needs.

Etymology
negLatinnot
+lectLatingather, choose; read

The literal image is “not to pick up.” Latin already used this combination for disregarding or not heeding something, leading directly to failing to give it proper attention or care.

Full entry

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