delinquency
UK[dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi]US[dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi]
n
Minor crime, especially that committed by young people.
n
Behaviour, especially by a young person, that is illegal or not acceptable to most people.
n
A failure to do something that law or duty requires.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
linqu
ency
de
away
linqu
leave
ency
state of
Etymology
The word delinquency originates from the Latin verb delinquere, meaning "to fail, to be lacking, to offend". This verb is itself a compound of the prefix de-, intensifying the sense of "completely", and linquere, "to leave". The core concept is of leaving or abandoning one's duty or proper conduct. In Roman legal and moral contexts, it described a failure or shortcoming. This sense of neglect or fault evolved through ecclesiastical Latin into English, where it initially referred to any misdeed or failure. By the 17th century, its meaning began to specialize, increasingly associating the failure of duty with illegal or antisocial behavior, and later becoming particularly linked with the misconduct of juveniles, reflecting the modern primary usage.
Analysis
Structure: de (away) + linqu (leave) + ency (state of)
- de: Latin prefix meaning "away, off, from".
- linqu: From Latin root linquere, meaning "to leave, forsake, abandon".
- ency: Latin suffix -entia, forming nouns denoting a state or quality.
Examples
The community is working to reduce juvenile delinquency through after-school programs.
His financial delinquency led to severe penalties and a damaged credit rating.
The study examines the social factors contributing to youth delinquency.