Heedlessness; lack of attention ; failure of a person to pay care-ful and prudent attention to the progress of a negotiation or a proceeding in court by which his rights may be affected. Used chiefly in statutory enumerations of the grounds on which a judgment or decree may be vacated or set aside; as, “mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.” See Skinner v. Terry, 107 N. C. 103, 12 S. E. 118; Davis v. Steuben School Tp., 19 Ind. App. 694, 50 N. E. 1; Taylor v. Pope, 106 N. C. 267, 11 S. E. 257, 19 Am. St. Rep. 539; Thompson v. Connell, 31 or. 231, 48 Pnc. 467, 65 Am. St. Rep. 818
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
