delinquentem

Delinquentem is a Latin word form meaning “the delinquent” or “a delinquent.” It is the accusative singular of the present active participle delinquens, which comes from the verb delinquere, meaning to fail, to fall behind, or to commit a fault. As a participial adjective, delinquentem agrees with a noun in gender (masculine or feminine), number (singular), and case (accusative).

In Latin grammar, participles such as delinquens are formed from a verb and declined like adjectives. The accusative singular masculine or feminine form is delinquentem. This allows delinquentem to modify a noun directly, for example in a phrase like delinquentem hominem, “the delinquent man.” The sense is typically moral or legal, describing someone who has failed to meet obligations or who has committed a fault.

Usage and nuance: delinquens and its accusative delinquentem appear in classical and later Latin texts when authors describe negligent behavior, breaches of duty, or criminal fault. The word functions primarily as a descriptive modifier rather than a stand-alone noun, though in some contexts it can be understood as a substantive noun phrase.

Overall, delinquentem reflects the Latin tradition of using participial adjectives to label persons by actions or faults. In modern Latin references, it is encountered mainly in grammatical explanations and translations, rather than as a common independent term. See also: Latin participles, Latin adjectives, delinquere.