to fail to give (a person, animal, or thing) proper care and attention
The garden had been neglected
to fail (to do something required of one)
He neglected to report the accident to the police
to disregard, or fail to act in accordance with (one's duties, somebody's advice, etc)
neglecter noun
[Latin neglectus, past part. of neglegere to disregard, from neg- not + legere to choose]