non-feasance Law.
(nɒnˈfiːzəns)
[non- 1.]
Omission of some act which ought to have been done. (Distinguished from malfeasance, misfeasance.)
| 1596 Bacon Max. Com. Law (1630) 2 If the grantee commit treason, wherby he is imprisoned, so that the grantor cannot have access unto him for his counsel, yet nevertheles the annuity is not determined by this non-feasance. 1622 Callis Stat. of Sewers (1824) 211 No permission, sufferance, neglect, or non-feasance, can be found to be by force, because they consist not in agendo. 1765 [see malfeasance]. 1781, 1875 [see misfeasance]. 1845 Polson Eng. Law in Encycl. Metrop. II. 813/2 Misconduct of officers of justice, being what the law terms malfeasance, that is, wrong-doing,—or culpable non-feasance. 1891 Morley in Times 30 Oct. 7/2 If your colleague..of to-day..is to be at liberty to-morrow to turn round and reproach you with supposed misfeasances and non-feasances. |
| transf. 1773 Observ. State Poor 27 There is one infallible way to put an end to begging,..which consists merely in a nonfeasance: give them nothing. |