neglect, negligee

negligee
1756, "a kind of loose gown worn by women," from Fr. négligée, from fem. pp. of négliger "to neglect," from L. neglegere (see neglect). So called in comparison to the elaborate costume of a fully dressed woman of the period. Borrowed again, 1835; the modern sense "semi-transparent, flimsy, lacy dressing gown" is yet another revival, first recorded 1930.

neglect (v.)
1529, from L. neglectus, pp. of neglegere "to make light of, disregard," lit. "not to pick up," variant of neclegere, from Old L. nec "not" (see deny) + legere "pick up, select" (see lecture). The noun is first attested 1588.

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to be in the practice of neglecting one's life (if such a thing could be called a "practice") results in one becoming a figurative "negligee": a "semi-transparent, flimsy" thing that reveals all of your nude and embarrassing parts to your glazed eyes, and, perhaps, reveals them to the world as well... we only appreciate the solidity (and perhaps the shallow surfaces) of the world that we actively care for; and we only see through that world (into a kind of ruined ghost world) when we cease to attend to its beck and call... there are thus two worlds: one of attention and one of neglect. they interpenetrate, and depend upon (or don't?) the cares of the observer.

the tree that falls in the forest, with no one to hear, is thus NEGLECTED.