Fail, n. [OF. faille, from
failir. See Fail, v. i.]
1. Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; --
mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the
phrase without fail. "His highness' fail of
issue." Shak.
2. Death; decease. [Obs.]
Shak.
Fail (fāl) v. i. [imp. &
p. p. Failed (fāld); 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.
Fail (?), v. t. 1.
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. 4.
2. To miss of attaining; to lose.
[R.]
Though that seat of earthly bliss be
failed.
Milton.