[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

negligence \neg"ligence\, n. f. n'egligence, l.
   negligentia.
   the quality or state of being negligent; lack of due
   diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect;
   heedlessness.
   1913 webster

   2. an act or instance of negligence or carelessness.
      1913 webster

            remarking his beauties, . . . i must also point out
            his negligences and defects.          --blair.
      1913 webster

   3. law the omission of the care usual under the
      circumstances, being convertible with the roman culpa. a
      specialist is bound to higher skill and diligence in his
      specialty than one who is not a specialist, and liability
      for negligence varies acordingly.
      1913 webster

   contributory negligence. see under contributory.
      1913 webster

   syn: neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight.

   usage: negligence, neglect. these two words are freely
          interchanged in our older writers; but a distinction
          has gradually sprung up between them. as now generally
          used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of
          leaving things undone or unattended to. we are
          negligent as a general trait of character; we are
          guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in reference
          to individuals who had a right to our attentions.
          1913 webster
see also:
culpa contributory negligence contributory negligence neglect 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

contributory \contrib"utory\, a.
   contributing to the same stock or purpose; promoting the same
   end; bringing assistance to some joint design, or increase to
   some common stock; contributive. --milton.
   1913 webster

         bonfires of contributory wood.           --chapman.
   1913 webster

   contributory negligence law, negligence by an injured
      party, which combines with the negligence of the injurer
      in producing the injury, and which bars recovery when it
      is the proximate cause of the injury. --wharton.
      1913 webster
see also:
contributory negligence 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

contributory negligence
     n : law behavior by the plaintiff that contributes to the harm
         resulting from the defendant's negligence; in common law
         any degree of contributory negligence would bar the
         plaintiff from collecting damages

Contributory >> C Words
Contributory, definition of term: Contributory
contributory_pag1.html

Negligence >> N Words
Negligence, definition of term: Negligence
negligence_pag1.html

Contributory Ne >> C Words
Contributory Ne, definition of term: Contributory Ne
contributory+ne_pag1.html