Fail /(fāl)/

imp. & p. p. Failed; p. pr. & vb. n. Failing

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.

   Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign.

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.

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.

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.

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.

   Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.

7. To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated.

   Our envious foe hath failed.

8. To err in judgment; to be mistaken.

   Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not.

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; as, many credit unions failed in the late 1980's.

1. To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert.

   There shall not fail thee a man on the throne.

2. To miss of attaining; to lose. [R.]

   Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed.

1. Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail.
2. Death; decease. [Obs.]