fail

Definitions

1. 1.Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign. Shak.
2. 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. 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. 4.To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
5. 5.To perish; to die; -- used of a person. [Obs.] Had the king in his last sickness failed. Shak.
6. 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.
7. 7.Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale. Shak.
8. 8.To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated. Our envious foe hath failed. Milton.
9. 9.To err in judgment; to be mistaken. Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not. Milton.
10. 10.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.
11. 11.To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert. There shall not fail thee a man on the throne. 1 Kings ii.
12. 12.2. To miss of attaining; to lose. [R.] Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed. Milton.
13. 13.Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail. "His highness' fail of issue." Shak.
14. 14.Death; decease. [Obs.] Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "fail" mean?
• What is another word for "fail"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is fail.

• What is till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign. Shak called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is to deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails called?
• What is to perish; to die; -- used of a person. [Obs.] Had the king in his last sickness failed. Shak called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale. Shak called?
• What is to come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated. Our envious foe hath failed. Milton called?
• What is to err in judgment; to be mistaken. Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not. Milton called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is to be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert. There shall not fail thee a man on the throne. 1 Kings ii called?
• What is 2. To miss of attaining; to lose. [R.] Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed. Milton called?
• What is miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail. "His highness' fail of issue." Shak called?