† defailv.
Obsolete.
1. intransitive. 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 dative).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > be wanting
trokec1000
lacka1175
wantc1225
missa1250
fail13..
fault1377
defaulta1382
defaila1400
inlaik1533
a1400 Shoreham Ps. xxii[i]. 1 in Wyclif's Bible I. Pref. 4 Nothyng shal defailen to me.
c1440 York Myst. xxviii. 146 If all othir for-sake þe I schall neuere fayntely defayle þe.
b. To lose vigour, become weak, decay.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)] > be weak > become weak
of-fall?a1200
fail?c1225
wastea1300
languisha1325
defail1340
languora1375
defaulta1382
wastea1387
faintc1450
mortifyc1475
hink?a1500
traik?a1513
droopc1540
unquick1595
macerate1598
dodder1617
lachanize1623
smartle1673
break1726
go1748
sink1780
wilt1787
falter1799
weaken1886
to go down1892
to go out of curl1924
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 33 Efterward comþ werihede þet makeþ þane man weri and worsi uram daye to daye al huet he is al recreyd and defayled.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Deut. xxviii. 32 Thin eyen..defaylynge at the siȝt of hem al day.
a1420 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 3525 Whether supposest thow bette that noblesse Begynne in me, or noblesse and honour Defaile in the?
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde 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 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xiii. 48 Her speche deffaylleth alle sodeynly and can not kepe purpos ne countenaunce.
c. to defail of: to lack, want.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > non-possession > not have [verb (transitive)] > lack
wantc1175
missa1300
tharnc1300
to fail of1307
lackc1320
fault1377
failc1380
wanea1400
defaultc1425
to want ofc1425
walter1463
fault?1504
to defail of1556
to want for1560
scant1565
inlaik1568
impaira1626
to bate of1633
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. O I forcede of loue, defailinge of goode iugemente, discouer myne illes to her.
2. transitive. To cause to fail; to defeat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
1608 G. Markham & L. Machin Dumbe Knight i. sig. C Which to withstand I boldly enter thus, And will defaile, or else proue recreant.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakening or decline in health
failinga1382
sickeninga1382
wasting1398
downhielda1400
dissolutionc1400
debilitationa1492
defailing1502
effeeblishing1540
faintingc1540
effeeblishment1545
enervationa1575
feeblishing1574
declining1588
decay1609
flagging1611
labefaction1620
feebling1624
sinking1625
deading1645
dejection1652
fail1654
emperiment1674
decline1770
sapping1825
breakdown1858
attenuation1868
the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [noun] > deficiency, lack, or shortage
wanec888
trokingc1175
want?c1225
defaultc1300
trokea1325
fault1340
lacking1377
scarcityc1380
wantingc1390
absencea1398
bresta1400
defect?a1425
lack?c1425
defailing1502
mank?a1513
inlaik1562
defection1576
inlaiking1595
vacuity1601
deficience1605
lossa1616
failancea1627
deficiency1634
shortness1669
falling shorta1680
miss1689
wantage1756
shortage1868
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. xxix. sig. kk.ii The fourth lettynge is dyffaylynge of wytte humayne.
1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Defaillance & langueur, defayling, languor.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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