verwaarloosd

Verwaarloosd is a Dutch adjective meaning neglected, disregarded, or abandoned. It describes something that has not received proper care, attention, or maintenance. The word is the past participle of the verb verwaarlozen (to neglect) and is used to modify nouns in both attributive and predicative positions, for example: een verwaarloosd huis (an neglected house), het verwaarloosde huis (the neglected house), de verwaarloosde gebouwen (the neglected buildings).

In usage, verwaarloosd can refer to a wide range of subjects. People and animals can be described as verwaarloosd when they have not received adequate care, such as verwaarloosde kinderen (neglected children) or verwaarloosde huisdieren (neglected pets). Buildings, infrastructure, or landscapes may also be characterized as verwaarloosd when they are in disrepair or have fallen into disuse, for example verwaarloosde tuinen or verwaarloosde gebouwen.

Morphology and grammar: as a past participle used as an adjective, verwaarloosd agrees in number and definiteness with the noun it modifies. Indefinite singular: een verwaarloosd huis; definite singular: het verwaarloosde huis; plural: de verwaarloosde huizen or verwaarloosde huizen in indefinite contexts.

Etymology: verwaarloosd derives from ver- (a prefix indicating completion or negation) plus waarlozen (to neglect), with waarlozen itself rooted in older Dutch forms meaning to disregard or neglect.

See also: verwaarlozen, verwaarlozing.

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