Word of the Day - 07/17/26
derelict
/'dɛrəlɪkt/(adj.): failing in what duty requires
The official was accused of being derelict in his duties by neglecting the public's concerns.
(adj.): forsaken by owner or inhabitants
We explored the derelict farmhouse, its windows shattered and garden overgrown.
(n.): something abandoned; especially a ship abandoned on the high seas
The Coast Guard spotted a derelict, its mast snapped and hull breached, drifting towards the coast.
(n.): a person without a home, job, or property
The outreach program aims to help the city's derelicts find shelter and support.
Word Origin
The word 'derelict' originates from the Latin word 'derelictus', which is the past participle of 'derelinquere', meaning 'to abandon completely'. It can be broken down into the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'completely' or 'away') and 'relinquere' (meaning 'to leave behind' or 'to abandon').
Words with similar origins include 'relinquish', which also comes from the Latin 'relinquere', meaning 'to give up or surrender', and 'relict', derived from 'relictus', the past participle of 'relinquere', referring to something left behind or a widow.