For*get"ful*ness, n. 1.
The quality of being forgetful; prononess to let slip from the
mind.
2. Loss of remembrance or recollection; a
ceasing to remember; oblivion.
A sweet forgetfulness of human
care.
Pope.
3. Failure to bear in mind; careless
omission; inattention; as, forgetfulness of duty.
Syn. -- Forgetfulnes, Oblivion.
Forgetfulness is Anglo-Saxon, and oblivion is Latin.
The former commonly has reference to persons, and marks a state of
mind; the latter commonly has reference to things, and indicates a
condition into which they are sunk. We blame a man for his
forgetfulness; we speak of some old custom as buried in
oblivion. But this discrimination is not strictly adhered
to.