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.]- 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.
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As the waters fail from the sea.
Job xiv. 11.
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Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign.
Shak.
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- To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; -- used with of.
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If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to their size.
Berke.
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- To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
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When earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail.
Milton.
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- To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
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- To perish; to die; -- used of a person. [Obs.]
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Had the king in his last sickness failed.
Shak.
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- 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.
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Take heed now that ye fail not to do this.
Ezra iv. 22.
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Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.
Shak.
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- To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated.
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Our envious foe hath failed.
Milton.
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- To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
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Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps
Shall grieve him, if I fail not.
Milton.
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- 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.
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