negligee
UK[ˈneɡlɪʒeɪ]US[ˌneɡlɪˈʒeɪ]
n
A woman's light, usually sheer dressing gown or robe.
Etymology
The word 'negligee' entered English in the mid-18th century directly from the French 'négligé', the past participle of the verb 'négliger', meaning 'to neglect'. The original French term described a simple, informal gown worn by women when 'neglecting' or relaxing from the constraints of formal, structured court dress. This concept of casual, unstructured attire was borrowed into English along with the word. Over time, the meaning in English specialized to refer specifically to a light, often decorative and sheer dressing gown, emphasizing its association with intimate, private wear rather than its original connotation of casual informality more broadly.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from French, adopted as a single lexical unit. It is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She wore a silk negligee over her nightgown.
The negligee was a popular item of lingerie in the early 20th century.
A lace-trimmed negligee was draped over the chair.