Inattentions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Failures to pay attention or take notice of something important
2. Instances of neglecting or overlooking details, often leading to unintended consequences
3. The act of being distracted or preoccupied, resulting in a lack of focus on the matter at hand

Etymology: "Inattentions" is simply the plural of "inattention," so it names several instances of the state of not giving heed to something. The base noun was borrowed from French "inattention," which is itself formed from the French prefix "in-" meaning "not" and "attention," from Latin "attentio," a noun built on "attendere," "to give heed to" or "to stretch toward." The Latin root is literally a matter of stretching the mind toward something, so the English word reverses that image: the mind has been pulled away. The English noun "attention" entered the language earlier, and "inattention" follows the same pattern, pairing a negating prefix with a word that was already established. Its plural form appears when speakers want to count separate lapses rather than describe the general condition.

Synonyms: distractions, oversights, neglects, carelessnesses

Antonyms: attentions, focuses, concentrations