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de·lin·quent

(dĭ-lĭngkwənt, -lĭn-)

adj.

1. Failing to do what law or duty requires.

2. Overdue in payment: a delinquent account.

1. A juvenile delinquent.

2. A person who neglects or fails to do what law or duty requires.

[Latin dēlinquēns, dēlinquent-, present participle of dēlinquere, to offend : dē-, de- + linquere, to leave, abandon; see leik^w- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

de·linquent·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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