Inadvertence; pl. -ces (, Inadvertency; pl. -cies (, n.
Etymology: [Cf. F. inadvertance.]
1. The quality of being inadvertent; lack of heedfulness or attentiveness; inattention; negligence; as, many mistakes proceed from inadvertence. Inadvertency, or want of attendance to the sense and intention of our prayers. Jer. Taylor.
2. An effect of inattention; a result of carelessness; an oversight, mistake, or fault from negligence. The productions of a great genius, with many lapses an inadvertencies, are infinitely preferable to works of an inferior kind of author which are scrupulously exact. Addison.
Syn. -- Inattention; heedlessness; carelessness; negligence; thoughtlessness. See Inattention.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for inadvertence; he lists it under neglect.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.