forgetfulness

For*get"ful*ness, n. 1. The quality of being forgetful; prononess to let slip from the mind. 2. Loss of remembrance or recollection; a ceasing to remember; oblivion. A sweet forgetfulness of human care. Pope. 3. Failure to bear in mind; careless omission; inattention; as, forgetfulness of duty. Syn. -- Forgetfulnes, Oblivion. Forgetfulness is Anglo-Saxon, and oblivion is Latin. The former commonly has reference to persons, and marks a state of mind, and marks a state of mind; the latter commonly has reference to things, and indicates a condition into which they are sunk. We blame a man for his forgetfulness; we speak of some old custom as buried in oblivion. But this discrimination is not strictly adhered to.

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