What does "defect" mean?
Defect: Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment. Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every friend -- any every foe. Pope. Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects. Macaulay. See Fault.
Additional senses
- 2.To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.
- 3.To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00