Fail \Fail\v. i. [imp. & p. p. Failed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Failing.]
[F. failir, fr. L. fallere, falsum, to deceive,
akin to E. fall. See Fail, and cf. Fallacy, False,
Fault.]
1. To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in
any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be
furnished in the usual or expected manner, or to be
altogether cut off from supply; to be lacking; as, streams
fail; crops fail.
As the waters fail from the sea. --Job xiv. 11.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign.
--Shak.
2. To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be
deficient or unprovided; -- used with of.
If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be
attributed to their size. --Berke.
3. To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay;
to sink.
When earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude they
then begin to fail. --Milton.
4. To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources,
etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
5. To perish; to die; -- used of a person. [Obs.]
Had the king in his last sickness failed. --Shak.
6. To be found wanting with respect to an action or a duty to
be performed, a result to be secured, etc.; to miss; not
to fulfill expectation.
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this. --Ezra
iv. 22.
Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.
--Shak.
7. To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired;
to be baffled or frusrated.
Our envious foe hath failed. --Milton.
8. To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall
grieve him, if I fail not. --Milton.
9. To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to
be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business
obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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