REMISS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does remiss mean? 

• REMISS (adjective)
  The adjective REMISS has 1 sense:

1. failing in what duty requires

  Familiarity information: REMISS used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REMISS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Failing in what duty requires

Synonyms:

delinquent; derelict; neglectful; remiss

Context example:

remiss of you not to pay your bills

Similar:

negligent (characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern)

Derivation:

remissness (the quality of being lax and neglectful)

 Context examples 

“You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner,” said he, severely.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

How remiss I am to let you stay up so long.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

She had been often remiss, her conscience told her so; remiss, perhaps, more in thought than fact; scornful, ungracious.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Don't it—I don't say that it does, mind I want to know—don't it rather engross him? Don't it make him, perhaps, a little more remiss than usual in his visits to his blindly-doting—eh?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr. Rushworth is never remiss.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

After chatting some time on such matters as naturally arose from the objects around them, he suddenly addressed her with—“I have hitherto been very remiss, madam, in the proper attentions of a partner here; I have not yet asked you how long you have been in Bath; whether you were ever here before; whether you have been at the Upper Rooms, the theatre, and the concert; and how you like the place altogether.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Not to wait upon a bride is very remiss.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Here are many that would be interested in your improvements, my dear Mr. Rushworth, and that would like to hear Mr. Crawford's opinion on the spot, and that might be of some small use to you with their opinions; and, for my own part, I have been long wishing to wait upon your good mother again; nothing but having no horses of my own could have made me so remiss; but now I could go and sit a few hours with Mrs. Rushworth, while the rest of you walked about and settled things, and then we could all return to a late dinner here, or dine at Sotherton, just as might be most agreeable to your mother, and have a pleasant drive home by moonlight.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Depend upon it, that was the case: and very likely to happen with the Donwell servants, who are all, I have often observed, extremely awkward and remiss.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Norris began to look about her, and wonder that his falling in love with Julia had come to nothing; and could almost fear that she had been remiss herself in forwarding it; but with so many to care for, how was it possible for even her activity to keep pace with her wishes?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)