| 释义 |
† deˈfail, v. Obs.
[a. F. défaill-ir (Ch. de Roland, 11th c.) = Pr. defalhir, OCat. defallir: f. de- 3 + fallīre, Rom. repr. of L. fallĕre: see fail.]
1. intr. Used in various senses of fail v. (the prefix adding little to the force of the word):
a. To be or become absent or wanting (to a person, or with dat.);
b. To lose vigour, become weak, decay;
c. to defail of: to lack, want.
13..Shoreham Ps. xxii[i]. 1 in Wyclif's Bible I. Pref. 4 Nothyng shal defailen to me. 1340Ayenb. 33 Efterward comþ werihede þet makeþ þane man weri and worsi uram daye to daye al huet he is al recreyd and defayled. 1382Wyclif Deut. xxviii. 32 Thin eyen..defaylynge at the siȝt of hem al day. a1420Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 3525 Whether supposest thow bette that noblesse Begynne in me, or noblesse and honour Defaile in the? c1440York Myst. xxviii. 146 If all othir for-sake þe I schall neuere fayntely defayle þe. 1481Caxton Myrr. iii. vi. 140 Whan the mone..cometh right bytwene vs and the sonne, thenne..the mone taketh and reteygneth the lyght of the sonne on hye, so that it semeth to vs that is defaylled. 1490― Eneydos xiii. 48 Her speche deffaylleth alle sodeynly and can not kepe purpos ne countenaunce. 1556Aurelio & Isab. N iv, I forcede of love, defailinge of goode jugemente, discover myne illes to her.
2. trans. To cause to fail; to defeat.
1608Machin Dumb Knight i. (1633) B iv, Which to withstand I boldly enter thus, And will defaile, or else prove recreant.
Hence † deˈfailing vbl. n.
1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. xxix. 331 The fourth lettynge is dyffaylynge of wytte humayne. 1580Hollyband Treas., Defaillance & langueur, defayling, languor. |