GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   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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2.       
   Fail , v. t.
   To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert.
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   There shall not fail thee a man on the throne.
   1 Kings ii. 4.
   
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   To miss of attaining; to lose. [R.]
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   Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed.
   Milton.
   
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3.       
   Fail, n. [OF. faille, from failir. See Fail, v. i.]
   Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail. “His highness' fail of issue.” 
   Shak.
   
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   Death; decease. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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