defaultn.
/dᵻˈfɔːlt/, /ˈdiːfɔːlt/, U.S. /dəˈfɔlt/, /diˈfɔlt/, /dəˈfɑlt/, /diˈfɑlt/, /ˈdiˌfɑlt/, /ˈdiˌfɔlt/ I. Failure to do something adequately or correctly; failure to take the required or correct action.† 4. With reference to a thing: failure to operate or function normally or as required. Often spec. with reference to natural phenomena: eclipse of the sun or moon, low ebb of the tide. Also occasionally: an instance of this. Obsolete.† 5. Hunting. A loss of a scent or trail by the hounds; a halt in a hunt caused by this; (as a mass noun) the state or condition of having lost the scent; = fault n. 8. Frequently in at (a) default. Also in figurative contexts. Obsolete.
1. As a count noun.† b. An instance of inadvertently doing something incorrectly or badly; an error, a mistake; = fault n. 5b. Obsolete.
a. A wrong act or deed; a transgression, an offence, a sin. In later use chiefly: an instance of failing in one's duty or of not fulfilling an obligation (corresponding semantically to the mass-noun senses 2a and 3); = fault n. 5a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > dereliction of duty > [noun]
defaulta1250
fail1297
declining1526
defection1532
declination1533
defect1540
delinquishment1593
declension1597
secession1601
delinquency1606
delinquence1613
deliquity1682
dereliction1778
derelictness1888
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [noun] > failure in duty > instance of
defaulta1250
flaw1743
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 60 Beon i cnowen ofte to god of..hire defautes [?c1225 Cleo. fautes; c1230 Corpus Cambr. fawtes] touward him.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 108 (MED) Þe holy gost..him sseweþ his zennes and his defautes.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 143 (MED) But in holy chirche among ȝour self treteþ of ȝour errours and ȝour deffautes.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 102 Ye god amende defautes sire quod she.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) cxl. §4. 470 It is the manere of vnquaynt men when thai ere takyn with a defaute to excuse thaim with falshede.
1538 Prymer in Eng. after Vse of Sarum sig. Gjv Graunt vs pardon of our defautes.
1548 E. Gest Treat. againste Masse sig. Aii To murder a gyltlesse personne, is a defaulte full grevouse.
1588 A. Fraunce Lawiers Logike i. xii. f. 53v If hee bee nonsuite in an action, or doe commit any such like default.
1635 F. Quarles Emblemes iii. iv. Epigr. 139 Thine owne defaults did urge This twofold punishment.
1661 Thracian Wonder iv. i. sig. Fv If such defaults should be so punisht, we should have but few women in our kingdom.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 26 That no Timber be laid within the Tunnel of any Chimny, upon Penalty to the Workman for every Default Ten Shillings.
1719 Bp. of London in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Colonial Church: Virginia (1870) I. 201 It is..a grief to hear of any defaults and irregularities among you.
1736 D. Neal Hist. Puritans III. 540 His Majesty persisting in his refusal to plead, the clerk was ordered to record the default.
1834 Lancet 19 July 598/2 The consequences of a default of duty for which..he can have no apology.
1951 J. Agee Morning Watch ii. 87 Some failure of the soul or default of the heart which he could not now quite remember.
1988 Washington Post 6 Nov. c2/2 Even voting experts are no longer arguing that it is a default of civic responsibility for an American not to vote.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > [noun]
wanspeedc893
defaulta1387
unspeeda1400
faultingc1450
fail1477
defallation1490
ill, evil ch(i)eving?1518
misproving1542
defection1576
unsuccessa1586
defailance1603
abortiveness1611
defailment1612
ill success1615
failancea1627
unprosperitya1628
mis-success1641
successlessness1642
insuccess1646
intercision1647
failure1648
insuccessfulness1648
unprosperousness1648
defaillancy1649
unsuccessfulness1656
missucceedinga1661
non-success1665
defailurea1677
miscarrying1736
throwdown1887
short circuit1937
Palookaville?1954
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > [noun] > failure to act
defaulta1387
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > [noun]
misnimming?c1225
errora1340
defaulta1387
balkc1430
fault1523
jeofail1546
errat1548
trip1548
naught1557
missa1568
missinga1568
slide1570
snappera1572
amiss1576
mistaking1579
misprize1590
mistake1600
berry-block1603
solecism1603
fallibility1608
stumblea1612
blota1657
slur1662
incorrectnessa1771
bumble1823
skew1869
(to make) a false step1875
slip-up1909
ricket1958
bad1981
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 9 (MED) Suche men..willeþ liȝtliche blame defauȝtes of oþere men.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 7095 In his excusacioun, Ther schal noman defalte finde.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1018 With so glad cheere his gestes she receyueth And so konnyngly euerich in his degree That no defaute no man aparceyueth.
1426 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 6 Hem semyth..by þe defautes [þat] ye espied in þe same..þat þe processe..is fal[se and vn]trewe.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. xiv. sig. Xvi Oftentimes a..loker on espieth a defaulte, that the doer forgetteth or skyppeth ouer.
1590 W. Hutchinson in H. Barrow & J. Greenwood Coll. Sclaunderous Articles sig. Cv Your vnsufficient Argument hath 2. defaults in it.
1609 R. Abbot 3rd Pt. Def. Reformed Catholike 161 Of that translation it is confessed by sundry the most learned of his side, that there are many defaults and slippes.
1737 L. Clarke Compl. Hist. Bible I. iv. 192 One great Default..was, that they did not make a right Use of their Victories.
1821 R. Southey Vision of Judgem. iii. 10 There he..accuses For his own defaults the men who too faithfully serv'd him.
2.
a. Failure to do something required or expected; non-performance of a task, duty, or obligation; (Law) failure to fulfil a legal requirement or obligation, esp. refusal or failure to appear in court on the day assigned (often in to make default). Cf. in default at Phrases 3c.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > violation of law > failure to keep the law
defaulta1325
a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) v. 20 Ȝif þe tenaunt oþer þe defendaunt after atachement þat is itestimonied make defaute, þat anon þe grete destresse beo awarded.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 58 Defaute he mad [Fr. fet defaute] þat day. þerfor was þe dome gyuen..To exile þe erle Godwyn.
1495 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VII (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1495 §47. m. 28 If any..make defaute at the day and place.
a1547 in J. R. Boyle Early Hist. Town & Port of Hedon (1895) App. p. lxxi Yf anye tenante make defaulte of sewtinge of the said courte at two tymes in the yere.
1579 Rastell's Expos. Termes Lawes (new ed.) f. 26 This may be ii. ways the one vpon apparance, the other vpon default.
1620 J. Wilkinson Treat. Statutes conc. Coroners & Sherifes (new ed.) 148 If there was any thing pained at the last court to be done, and as yet is not done, you must enquire who hath made defalt therein.
1676 A. Clifford Methodus Evangelica vii. 27 A promise of some good, provided he continue to pay and perform the homage and duties required of him, together with a threatning of evil and punishment in case of default.
1764 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. I. (at cited word) Where a defendant makes default, judgment shall be had against him by default.
1866 Law Jrnl. Rep. 35 128/2 The board is bound to give written notice to the person causing the nuisance,..requiring him to do what is necessary; and upon default it is empowered to execute what works are required.
1921 Act 11 Geo. V c. 7 §1 (2) If any person..duly summoned as a witness before a tribunal makes default in attending.
1983 B. A. K. Rider Insider Trading vi. 310 Persistent default in the filing of accounts has resulted in three instances of disqualification orders being made.
2006 Companies Act c. 46 §749 (2) If default is made in complying with this section, an offence is committed by every officer of the company.
b. Failure to meet financial commitments; non-payment of money owed; the state of being unable to fulfil financial obligations. Also: an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > [noun] > failure to meet obligations
defaultinga1475
relapse1593
default1595
defaulture1632
1595 M. Mosse Arraignm. Usurie iii. 67 I know that at his time he is nothing like to pay it, and at his day he doth not pay it: for his default I seaze vpon his pawne, and take it to mine owne vse.
1657 Brief Relation Injurious Proc. & Inhumane Cruelties Turks 6 No English-mans person or estate..shall be liable to the debt or default of any other.
1695 tr. Edict Rivers 6 in tr. French King's Declar. for settling Poll-tax In case of Default, and not payment of the said Sums, within the time above specified, that they shall be Constrained thereunto, as for our proper Revenues and Affairs.
1796 J. Vancouver Enq. Causes & Production Poverty 127 Under circumstances like the present, after repayment should contemptuously be disregarded for a fortnight, notice of the default should publickly..be given.
1865 Civil Code Lower Canada: 6th Rep. xv. ii. 145 The surety is liable only upon the default of the debtor.
1875 W. S. Jevons Money (1878) 209 Convicted of fraud or default.
1890 Daily News 8 Nov. 5/4 Some defaults are expected at the Stock Exchange settlement next week.
1926 Econ. Jrnl. 36 212 Cars which have been repossessed by finance companies as a consequence of default upon instalments.
1988 J. McInerney Story of my Life iv. 58 These people are all bankers trying to improve the balance of payments with Mexico and prevent default.
2011 New Yorker 19 Dec. 44/1 For many of them the rational solution would be a ‘a strategic default’—walking away from the mortgage and letting the bank take the house.
3. Failure to perform a task or duty correctly or adequately, esp. so as to result in negative consequences; the responsibility or culpability connected to this, as attributed to a particular person; = fault n. 7a(a). In early use also: †wrongdoing, sinfulness; guilt (obsolete). Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [noun] > failure in duty
fail1297
defaultc1330
defaultinga1475
delinquishment1593
delinquency1606
delinquence1613
deliquity1682
dereliction1778
derelictness1888
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 214 Þat we forlorn at þis asaut Al we wite it þi defaut.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 132 (MED) Þe uerste stape of mildenesse is to knawe his pourehede and his defaute [c1450 Bk. Vices & Virtues defautes; Fr. defaute].
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 26241 If þi barne For þi defaut be for-farne.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 2 Thurgh whilk ilk man es saued, bot if it be his awen defaute.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. viii. 79 Greatt defawte with hym youre fader fand.
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 5th Serm. sig. Kiiii They shall aunswere for all the soules that perishe throughe theyr defaute.
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. ii. xxii. §10. 555 Those calamities which happened by their owne default.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 45 What if all foretold Had been fulfilld but through mine own default, Whom have I to complain of but my self? View more context for this quotation
1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 478 A God without a Thought, Regardless of our Merit or Default.
a1781 R. Jago Poems (1784) 257 O Adam! can I thus behold thee wretched, Thus mis'rable thro' my default, nor strive To sooth thy grief, and soften thy distress?
1831 R. W. Gill & J. Johnson Rep. Court of Appeals Maryland 2 487 It was his default that the necessary repairs were not attempted.
1897 Law Times 13 Feb. 631/1 The owner cannot be called upon to build a new wall unless the old one has perished through his default.
1925 Times of India 17 Mar. The loss of the ‘Elphinstone’ was caused by no negligence or default of mine, but by a conjunction of circumstances which I could not foresee.
1980 Econ. & Polit. Weekly 27 Dec. a155/3 Only two or three field staff were penalised for default of duty, generally when..a sluice which should have been closed for several days..had clearly been letting out water within the previous few hours.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > [noun] > failure to operate or function
defaulta1398
inoperativeness1880
inoperancy1936
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xiii. xxi. 667 [Þe see] abateþ..eueryche day anone to þe seueneþ day, and þanne þe see [is] in his laste defaute, grounde ebbe [L. in ultimo defectu].
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5015 If any lym wanted, þat shuld falle Til þe body, or any war over smalle, Thurgh þe defaut here of kynd.
?a1425 (a1415) Lanterne of Liȝt (Harl.) (1917) 30 (MED) Þe world is lickned to þe moone, þat is to seie, vanisching or defauȝt.
1520 Chron. Eng. iii. f. 19/1 Talus founde fyrste the defaute of the sonne and the moone.
1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) i. sig. U2v It is your Oxe that by default of your owne fence hath entred my ground.
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) i. i. iii. ii. 31 Faith, opinion,..ratiocination, are all accidentally depraued by default of the Imagination.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xvi. 100 Some [children], through the default of their Memories..are not able all their life-time, to reckon or regularly go over any moderate Series of Numbers.
1710 Suppl. Athenian Oracle 218/1 Quest. How can we perceive the Number of the Heavens? Answ. By..the Eclipses, Defaults, or observing of the Stars.
1736 T. Gray Let. Dec. in Corr. (1971) I. 56 If the default of your spirits and nerves be nothing but the effect of the hyp, I have no more to say.
1833 London Med. Gaz. 30 Nov. 306 We must seek some cause for the [menstrual] discharge being unnaturally delayed. Its default may depend..on a..congenital imperfection in the uterus and ovaria.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > [noun] > loss of scent
defaulta1450
overputting1590
at a loss1592
fault1593
check1781
a1450 ( G. Chaucer Bk. Duchess (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 384 Þe houndis hade ouershet hem al And were on a defaute [c1450 Fairf. defaulte] Ifal.
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. eviv And iff yowre houndis chase at hert or at haare And thay renne at defaute.
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie lx. 119 A hounde may much sooner be at default in the hollow woodes than in the strong couerts.
1592 R. Greene Philomela sig. D Though the Hare take squat she is not lost at the first defaulte.
1614 I. D. in T. Overbury et al. Wife now Widdow Newes from Very Country sig. G2v Statesmen hunt their fortunes, and are often at default.
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation 42 They [sc. hares] will frequently betake themselves to Furz-bushes, and will leap from one to the other, whereby the Hounds are frequently in default.
1736 Compl. Family-piece ii. i. 211 The Huntsman..assisting them at every Default, when they have either lost the Slot, or follow not the right.
1758 T. Fairfax Compl. Sportsman 97 When the Huntsman finds his hounds at a default..let him hunt on..looking narrowly on the ground as he goes, to see to find the footing or pricking of the hare.
1801 Sporting Mag. 18 236/1 The hounds being oftener at default on the hard paths than the turf.
1889 W. S. Dixon In North Countree v. 158 The hounds divided and went after two of them, but being at default at Eston Crag we called off and joined the others at Osborne Rush.
6. Sport and Games (originally Tennis). An instance of awarding a match or game to an opponent as a result of the withdrawal, disqualification, or non-appearance of a player or team. Cf. by default at Phrases 1a(b).
ΚΠ
1891 Illustr. Amer. 29 Aug. 78/2 Mr. B. was beaten by the first-prize winner after a default to Mr. B. on his first draw from Mr. C.
1906 Brit. Chess Mag. Mar. 117 ‘A’ Division is now in a most interesting state, since the Metropolitan Chess Club..drew, through numerous defaults, with the Brixton Club.
1961 Basketball Guide (Div. Girls & Women's Sports, Amer. Alliance for Health, Physical Educ., & Recreation) 132 A default may be declared when a team is not ready to play within 15 minutes of the..start,..or if a team fails to appear or notify opponents.
2015 Toronto Star (Nexis) 7 Sept. s1 The tournament referee and Grand Slam supervisor can override a decision to continue if it's determined the player is not fit to be on the court, resulting in a default.
7.
a. Computing. An option or setting that is adopted automatically by a computer program whenever an alternative is not specified by the user or programmer.Frequently attributive: see Compounds 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > [adjective] > pre-selected
default1965
greyed-out1985
society > computing and information technology > [noun] > set up or configuration > default
default1965
1965 Communications ACM 8 12/1 For every category of attribute there is a default which is the one most frequently used by the novice programmer.
1974 R. Hannula Computers & Programming v. 91 The duplication factor, if used, may be any nonnegative integer from 1 to 65,535. The default for this subfield is one.
1988 InfoWorld (Nexis) 17 Oct. 67 The first font on your list becomes the default for your entire spreadsheet.
1995 Chem. in Brit. Oct. 806/3 The program has a number of methods for solving simple and higher order differential equations; the widely-used Runge-Kutta method is loaded as the default.
2015 R. Gunesekera & A. L. Kennedy Novel Writing 164 Modern word-processing programs' defaults are designed for office use and they need tweaking to suit us.
b. A usual, customary, or standard option, state, course of action, etc., esp. one adopted or reverted to in the absence of conscious choice or viable alternatives.Deriving from the earlier extended attributive use at Compounds 3b.
ΚΠ
1979 Perspectives of New Music 18 414 My default may indeed be Gaburo's ‘act of notating’ but whether ‘new musical ideas’ arise therefrom remains moot.
1996 New Yorker 17 June 78/3 In a system where whiteness is the default, racelessness is never a possibility.
2005 G. Critser Generation Rx ii. 145 The drug and its imitators have become the default for almost all kids with behavior problems, just as SSRIs have become the default for adults..with depression.
2016 Guardian (Nexis) 15 Jan. My default seems to be intuition or creativity and I used to allow that to make all my decisions.
II. Lack, defect.
8. † b. Without specification of what is lacking: want of food or other necessities; privation, poverty. Obsolete.
a. Chiefly with of. Absence, lack, or scarcity of something specified; (in later use frequently) an instance of this. Cf. fault n. 1. Now somewhat rare except in in default of at Phrases 3a.
ΘΚΠ
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
c1300 St. Mary of Egypt (Laud) l. 247 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 268 Alas,..þe defaute of schip! [a1325 Corpus Cambr. wiþoute ssip] hou schulle we togadere wende?
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1718 For na suink þou haue defaut [Fairf. defaute, Gött. deffaute] of mete and drink.
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 199 Bi necligence & defaute of help manie men ben perischid.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 70 Certis defaute of bileve is cause of oure sleuþe.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 572 Gret defaut off mete had yai.
1530 tr. Caesar Commentaryes iv. 6 They had defawte of all things as be convenyent.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. 14 Ignoraunce and defaulte of litterature.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits vii. 90 Through default of a well made penne, he is forced to write with a sticke.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 19 And a great default there was..of sufficient pay, of holesome meat, and unanimity.
1679 tr. M.-C.-H. de Villedieu Unfortunate Heroes iv. 255 All interpreted that a default of Love in me, which was properly the excess of it.
1748 T. Nugent tr. J. J. Burlamaqui Princ. Nat. Law xi. 259 This default of certainty does not excuse neglect.
1771 Polit. Reg. Oct. 177 A secret order, compensating the default of reason, prompts them to propagate their species.
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 94 Two kinds of deafness are those arising from an excess of wax in the ear, or its total default.
1870 Observer 23 Oct. 5/3 In the present default of evidence a hundred reasons might easily be suggested to account for the wreck.
1959 Washington Post & Times Herald 16 Mar. a2/2 Any attitude that would drive her [sc. France] to look for help elsewhere would constitute a tragic default of reason and free-world sanity.
1980 Blair & Ketchum's Country Jrnl. Oct. 116/2 The impulse was never much but a default of independence, a reflex of unthinking obligation to the age in which most people do the same things.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > poverty > [noun]
waedlec888
wanspeedc893
wanea1100
wandrethc1175
miseasea1200
povertya1225
lowness?c1225
needc1225
orcostc1225
poorness?a1300
unwealtha1300
defaultc1300
porailc1325
straitnessa1340
poorhead1340
mischiefa1375
miseasetya1382
needinessa1382
misterc1385
indigencec1386
scarcitya1387
noughtc1400
scantnessc1400
necessity?1406
penurya1425
povertnessa1434
exilitya1439
wantc1450
scarcenessc1475
needinga1500
povertiesa1500
penurity?a1505
poortith?a1513
debility1525
tenuity1535
leanness1550
lack1555
Needham1577
inopy1581
pinching1587
dispurveyance1590
egency1600
macritude1623
penuriousness1630
indigency1631
needihood1648
necessitousness1650
egestuosity1656
straitened circumstancesa1766
unopulence1796
Queer Street1811
lowliness1834
breadlessness1860
unwealthiness1886
out-of-elbowness1890
secondary poverty1901
Short Street1920
c1300 St. Mary of Egypt (Laud) 16 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 261 For non ne scholde for defaute bi-leue þe foule sunne.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4760 Þan iacob and his suns warn For defaut wel ner for-farn.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xviii. l. 67 He..fedde þat a-fyngred were and in defaute lyueden.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. clxvjv/1 They of the towne within had so grete defaulte that they ete theyr shoys and lachettis.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clxxxvi. f. cixv Many dyed for defaute.
1629 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum 162 The endlesse blisse of many millions now perishing through theyr great default.
9.
a. A non-physical flaw, a defect of character or quality; esp. a personal failing or imperfection. Cf. fault n. 3a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [noun] > state of having moral defects > moral defect
lackc1200
vice1338
default1340
fault1377
infirmity1382
wallet1528
flaw1586
failing1590
leak1597
delinquency1606
tare?1608
shortcominga1687
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > imperfection > [noun] > an imperfection > defect or fault or flaw > immaterial
default1340
vicec1386
craze1534
crack1570
flaw1586
tincturea1640
mole1644
shortness1644
snag1830
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 78 Hi yzeþ hare fieblesse, and hire poure loue, and hare defautes.
1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 4 He shal be put out..in-to tyme þt he haue hym amended of þe defautes to-fore said.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. N.ijv Al defautes in a gouernour may be borne saue ignoraunce.
1564 J. Stubbs tr. T. de Bèze Hist. Life & Death Caluin sig. D.j This onely default (that euer I knewe) was tempered wyth..great and amiable vertues.
1665 J. Davies tr. M. C. de La Chambre Art how to know Men i. i. 30 What is a perfection in the man, is a default, and imperfection in the Woman.
1690 W. Temple Ess. Anc. & Mod. Learning in Wks. (1731) I. 151 New [books]..have many of them their Beauties as well as their Defaults.
1704 J. Swift Tale of Tub v. 122 Forcing into the Light..my own Excellencies and other Mens Defaults.
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality II. x. 163 To convince him of personal Defaults and Infirmities, you ought to enclose him with Sycophants and servile Dependents.
1807 Tickler 16 Sept. Many attribute the origin of the recent division, to a dislike to Doctor Leib's moral, and a default in his political character.
1880 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea (ed. 4) VI. vi. 143 Grave defaults all the while lay hidden under the surface.
1907 Academy 12 June 600/2 Those who see in any use of alcohol..a grave error in sociology, or a sad default in morals need no further arguments in support of temperance doctrines.
1951 G. Boyle Pioneer in Purple xiii. 202 To Archbishop McNeil one of the worst defaults of language in modern times was the perversion of the word charity.
b. A physical defect or blemish; a flaw or imperfection in appearance, construction, or constitution. Cf. fault n. 3b. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > blemish > [noun]
lastOE
tachec1330
default1340
vicec1386
want1553
disfigurement1641
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 208 Nim hede to þe poure truons, hou hi sseweþ hire eueles, and hare defautes, uor to maki þet uolk, to habbe þe more reuþe of ham.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Job Prol. 20 Þe booc shortid & to-torn & to-biten sheweþ openli to þe rederis hys foule defaute [L. foeditatem].
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5016 And if any lym wanted..or any war over smalle..God þan wille Alle þe defautes of þe lyms fulfille.
1487–8 Churchwardens' Accts. Wigtoft, Lincs. in J. Nichols Illustr. Antient Times Eng. (1797) 82 For mendyng and stoppyng of the botrasses, and other defauts in the chirche walles.
1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 39 Lynt sede..when it is raw it taketh away the defautes of the face and frekles.
1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xxvi. xvi. 1045 All such defaults must be taken away, and then..an epuloticke applyed.
1657 N. Culpeper & W. Rowland tr. J. Johnstone Idea Pract. Physick viii. 20/2 They acquire and gain this disposition from a default in the Brain, declining from its genuine whitness, and generating such like spirits as these.
1711 P. Paxton Specimen Physico-Medicum iii. v. 349 Local Defaults are not often cured but by local Applications.
1878 J. S. Bristowe Treat. Theory & Pract. Med. (ed. 2) 869 Dr. Prout attributed the disorder to a combination of two circumstances;—one a defect of assimilation.., the other some renal default.
2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 23 Aug. b3/5 The usual defaults of material transferred from the European PAL standard to America's NTSC: a softened image, blurry movement [etc.].
Phrases
P1. by default.
a. to go by default.
(a) Of a legal case, judgment, or part of a judgment: to be decided in favour of one party (typically the plaintiff) upon the other party's failure or refusal to appear in court, or failure to submit in time information required by the court (cf. by default at Phrases 1b). Hence generally, esp. in figurative contexts: to fail, end in defeat, or be overlooked through lack of opposition or positive action (cf. by default at Phrases 1c).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > be careless or negligent [verb (intransitive)] > omit doing or to do something through carelessness > commit an oversight > be overlooked
to go by defaulta1638
to slip through the net1902
a1638 R. Brownlow & J. Gouldsborough Rep. Diverse Cases (1651) 71 An Action of Debt brought against two Defendants, one of them pleads Nil debet per patriam, and the other lets a Judgement go by Default.
1648 W. Sheppard Touch-stone Common Assurances xxiii. 495 He shall confesse the action, or suffer a Iudgement to go by default against him.
1726 Compl. Clerk in Court 232 Sometimes the Defendant's Clerk, not thinking fit to Plead, Confesseth the Action, or lets it go by Default.
1799 London Chron. 9 Feb. 145/3 Upon this information judgment, as I observed before, has gone by default.
1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 332 The cause when heard went by default.
1892 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 5 Nov. 12/7 The Tillmanites will..let the election go by default.
1908 Red Bluff (Calif.) News 17 Apr. 4/6 The people were not represented, however. Neither was the complaining witness on hand. The court and the defendants waited an hour. No appearance being made, the case went by default and the defendants were dismissed.
1955 Bull. Atomic Scientists June 216/3 The problem must not be allowed to go by default.
1968 Internat. & Compar. Law Q. 17 708 The defendant..will be compelled either to take the risk of letting the case go by default or to take all the trouble..of defending the action..at a court in a foreign country.
1985 Guardian 18 Nov. 6/7 Part of the new Soviet policy of using the media more professionally has meant that the US side of the case went by default.
2010 D. Loades Relig. Culture Marian Eng. vii. 126 It used to be believed that the government's case more or less went by default.
(b) Sport and Games. Of a match, game, etc.: to be awarded to a player or team as a result of the withdrawal, non-appearance, or disqualification of an opponent.
ΚΠ
1874 Forest & Stream 12 Nov. 220/2 The [billiard] game went by default as it were, for Ubassy..disputed the referee's decision, and actually spread the balls over the table with the butt of his cue... Ubassy..forfeiting the game to Garnier.
1904 Washington Post 12 July 8/5 Other players were substituted in order not to let the [baseball] game go by default.
1953 Madison (Wisconsin) State Jrnl. 14 Sept. ii. 2/1 Sheriff's officers insisted the game went by default. Traffic officers claimed charleyhorses [= cramps] developed by both Sheriff Franz G Haas and Undersheriff Vernon..Leslie brought the game to a close.
1997 Times (Nexis) 28 Mar. It is understandable that the good teams are worried that some matches may go by default.
b. With reference to a legal judgment, sentence, etc.: given for one party (typically the plaintiff) upon the other party's failure or refusal to appear in court, or failure to submit in time information required by the court. Cf. sense 2a. See also Phrases 1a(a).
ΚΠ
1653 R. Vaughan Manner Proc. Courts North-Wales sig. A3v The awarding of these Process, and obtaining of these Judgements by Default, depend upon the Sheriff's return of any the said Writs.
1764 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. I. (at cited word) Where a defendant makes default, judgment shall be had against him by default.
1799 J. Adolphus Biogr. Mem. French Revol. II. 70 At length Mirabeau obtained his liberty, and found little difficulty invalidating a sentence which had been pronounced merely by default.
1843 tr. A. Dumas Celebrated Crimes 245 By the same decree, the Marchioness de Brinvilliers was condemned, by default, to have her head cut off.
1866 Law Jrnl. Rep. 35 66/1 The action, in which judgment was signed by default.
1931 Encycl. Laws Scotl. XI. 590 Decrees in absence or decrees by default.
1999 Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) (Nexis) 30 Jan. (Real Estate Weekly) 2 The plaintiff may then be awarded Judgment by Default if the defendant does not appear in court on the return day.
c. gen. In the absence of an alternative option being available, suggested, or specified; through lack of opposition or positive action. Cf. to go by default at Phrases 1a(a).
ΚΠ
1836 Richmond (Va.) Enquirer 1 Nov. Mr. Van Buren has long been considered the popular candidate for the Presidency, and, until an Opposition was organised, it was thought that he would carry the election by default.
1856 N.Y. Evangelist 23 Oct. 187/3 The friends of church music should look well to this cause. They should bestir themselves, and not suffer the precious cause to be lost by default.
1947 Amer. Jrnl. Physics 15 356/2 There is..no word..to express the concept of a particular species of atom... The word isotope has come into use for this purpose, less by design than by default.
1994 Entertainm. Weekly 27 May 50/1 With few romantic comedies around, this could be the summer's date movie by default.
2015 J. Silverman Terms of Service 33 By engaging with a brand, why must I consent, by default, to become part of their promotional apparatus?
d. Sport and Games (originally Tennis). As a result of the withdrawal, non-appearance, or disqualification of an opponent; on the basis of a match or game being judged a default (sense 6). See also to go by default at Phrases 1a(b).
ΚΠ
1888 Boston Post 17 Aug. 2/1 Third round, gentleman's singles... H. W. Slocum, Jr., vs. Q. A. Shaw, Slocum won by default.
1909 Amer. Golfer Oct. 408/1 Mr. Clark also secured another match by default against A. B. Powell,..who failed to put in an appearance.
1987 P. H. Yeomans Southern Calif. Tennis Champions Centennial, 1887–1987 viii. 100 Sidney Wood won the Wimbledon singles title in 1931 by default over Frank Shields who had injured his ankle.
2015 Derby Tel. (Nexis) 24 Mar. (Sport section) 38 Saturday's [basketball] game was forfeited by Westminster Warriors, who were unable to field a team. That meant Trailblazers were awarded a 20-0 victory by default.
e. Computing. As an option or setting adopted automatically by a computer program whenever an alternative is not specified by the user or programmer. Cf. sense 7a.
ΚΠ
1967 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. C. 16 90 For each identifier..information can, but need not be given... If no type is given it is assumed by default to be floating point.
1975 Computing Center Newslet. (Univ. of Michigan) 15 Jan. 2/1 If SPRINT is explicitly assigned, rather than being assigned by default, the output from MVC is directed to SPRINT.
1986 Byte Apr. 306/3 A single-line LCD built into the keyboard that shows the date and time by default.
2012 Wall St. Jrnl. 21 July c2/4 Microsoft announced that the ‘Do Not Track’..feature will be turned on by default in the next version of Internet Explorer.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > non-possession > non-possession [phrase] > through lack of
for (the) fault ofc1290
for default ofc1300
for (occasionally by, from, through) lack ofc1386
for want ofa1425
in want of1556
in defect of1563
in failance ofa1627
in neglect of1807
c1300 St. Francis (Laud) l. 229 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 60 (MED) Miseyse huy hadden..For defaute of heore sustinaunce, and for defaute of bokes more.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9391 Vor defaute of wit in his heued.
a1450 ( G. Chaucer Bk. Duchess (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 5 I haue so many an Idel þouȝt Purli for defaute of slepe.
1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 24 For the defawte of eyr male.
1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. H2, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) And for default of other matter forsooth, how they laughed at me.
1606 J. Finet tr. R. de Lucinge Beginning, Continuance, & Decay Estates viii. 44 For default of wel measured elections a Prince plungeth himselfe and his estate in a thousand dangers and confusions.
1641 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) f. 12 Administrator is he to whom the Ordinary committeth the administration of goods of a dead man for default of an Executor.
1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. IV. 446 And, for default of issue of the body of the said Thomas, to [etc.].
1907 F. B. Palmer Peerage Law in Eng. xviii. 221 All such honours, castles, baronies, and hereditaments whatsoever which..were held, given, entailed in use or possession for default of heirs male of the bodies of the said George Neville..and Lady Mary, his wife.
P3. in default.† b. At fault; guilty of sinning, neglecting one's duty, etc. Similarly in no default: not at fault, not responsible. Obsolete. [Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French en defaute (14th cent. or earlier).] † d. As a sentence adverbial: failing that; otherwise. Obsolete.
a. in default of: in the absence of, for lack of. [Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French en defaute de (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier).]
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 260 The fissh, if it be dreie, Mot in defaute of water deie.
1411 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 20 Takynge a distresse in defawte of payment.
1495 Will of W. Leynthale in J. R. H. Weaver & A. Beardwood Some Oxfordshire Wills (1958) 52 His heirs masculis, and in defaulte of such heires to my other children and there like heirs seriatim.
1568 W. Turner Herbal iii. 29 In defaut of it he teacheth to take halfe as much of Asarabacca.
a1615 Balnagown MS in W. R. Baillie Breve Cron. Earlis of Ross (1850) 20 The miln decayed in default of beiting and holding up of the same.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. ix. 156 In Default of that Perfection of Wisdom and Virtue.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. x. vi. 289 This fine fortune, in default of male issue, is obliged to come to a female, the law making no proviso to the contrary.
1868 J. C. Wilcocks Sea-fisherman (ed. 2) 25 Pilchards for bait may frequently be procured..in default of which Mussels can be obtained.
1949 E. Bowen Heat of Day iv. 71 In default of any other place where they could be private, he took her to a recess under the stairs.
2004 Times Lit. Suppl. 18 June 17/3 In default of larger animals, she cherished newts and sticklebacks.
ΚΠ
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 139 (MED) If he fynde ȝow in defaute and with þe fals holde, It shal bisitte ȝowre soules ful soure.
c1400 in T. F. Simmons Lay Folks Mass Bk. (1879) 126 (MED) He is continuelly in defaute aȝen þat myȝtteful lord.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccclxxix. 634 The rebellion..hath coste..many a mans lyfe in Gaunt, and parauenture many a one that were in no defaulte.
1582 C. Plantin tr. A. Venero in tr. J. de Jáuregui y Aguilar True Disc. Assault William Prince of Orange sig. Givv Of this last losse he was in no default.
1688 State of Ireland 22 If the Declaration be not Perused, the English are in no Default.
c. Law. In a state of having failed to fulfil a legal requirement or obligation, esp. of having failed to appear in a court of law or to make a payment that is due. Also in later use: (of a loan, etc.) in a state of being unpaid.
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1580 in Trans. Shropshire Archæol. & Nat. Hist. Soc. (1882) 5 14 The Quartering money to be quarterly paid by ev'y scholer [at Oswestry Grammar School] as aforesaid or within 15 days after. And in default to be put out of the Schoole.
1638 R. Bolton Iustice of Peace for Ireland i. xxv. 111 The Iu. of P. at their Sessions shall punish such as be found in default.
1648 Order Commons Taking off Priviledge & Protection 6 Ordered, That every Member..having a Process delivered him for appearance.., do accordingly make his Appearance, or in default, this House on complaint thereof, will take such course therein, as to Justice shall appertain.
1724 Readings upon Statute Law III. 6 The Tenant of the Land is in default in not repairing his Fences.
1839 T. J. F. Alden & J. A. Van Hoesen Digest Laws of Mississippi xxxix. 240 Any guardian, who shall not deliver in such inventory..shall..be summoned, and if he remain in default, his bond may be put in suit, and a new guardian appointed.
1850 Jurist 13 i. 976/2 The defendant was bound to appear within eight days..of the subpoena; and not having appeared until the ninth day..he was in default.
1875 Money Market Rev. 1 May 539/1 One half-year's dividend on the 1871 Loan had been paid after the 1872 Loan was in default.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 124/1 Accountants..act as trustees, liquidators, receivers and managers of businesses, the owners of which are in default or their affairs in liquidation.
1991 Time 27 Feb. 77 (advt.) If being exciting means investing heavily in junk bonds that end up in default, that's the kind of excitement we can all do without.
2016 Mass. Lawyers Weekly (Nexis) 4 Feb. The defendant failed to appear in court on the District Court matters. The court found him to be in default and issued default warrants.
ΚΠ
1592 N. Breton Pilgrimage to Paradise 99 That, in true loue, might euer so attende thee, As, in default, might, neuer more offende thee.
1689 E. Hickeringill Ceremony-monger Concl. iv. 106 The Presbyters, or (in default) any Church Member.
1717 Polit. State Great-Brit. Sept. 276 All Persons of the Popish Religion..should..give Security before the chief Magistrate, Recorder and Sheriffs, for their faithful behaving themselves towards her Majesty,..or in Default, to depart the said Town.
P4. without default: without fail, assuredly. [Compare Anglo-Norman sanz defaute , Middle French sans defaute , sans defaut (first quarter of the 12th cent. in Old French). Compare without fail at fail n.2 1.]
ΚΠ
a1325 Holy Cross (Corpus Cambr.) l. 53 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 169 Oure stappes beoþ euere sene Þer by wiþoute defaute [c1300 Laud faille] to parais euene gon.
c1440 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 264 (MED) Amen, þat es to say, ‘witterly forsothe, with-owttene any defaute’..with-owttene defaute Suffere noghte þe deuelle to assaye vs.
1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortés Arte Nauigation Epistle sig. Aiii Dyalles..so certen, that in all places they shall shewe the true houres without defaute.
Compounds
attributive. C1. Resulting from or connected with failure to fulfil an obligation; esp. relating to financial default, as default authority, default interest, default penalty, default summons.
ΚΠ
1868 Leeds Mercury 6 Jan. 4/5 Persons wishing to sue for trade debts up to £50..may obtain a default summons.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 29 July 5/3 If a client borrowed £100, say, and paid off £90, ‘default interest’ at the rate of one halfpenny per shilling per week..was at once charged on the £10 in arrear.
1908 Daily Chron. 13 May 7/7 While the county council is the default authority in case of the failure of the district council in sanitation, the Local Government Board is the default authority in case of the district council's failure to do what is needed in housing.
1926 N.Y. Times 3 June 9/5 Judge Fosdick in Superior Court ordered withdrawn a default warrant issued yesterday.
1986 Jrnl. Policy Anal. & Managem. 5 552 The price schedule may entail all sorts of complex arrangements, including, for example, rate, volume, and mix adjustments and default penalties.
1994 T. Byrne Local Govt. in Brit. (ed. 6) xii. 366 The alternative procedure is for the Minister to issue directions or a default order enforceable through the courts.
2013 C. Walton tr. E. Rieger F. Wagner xiii. 255 She had even been served with a default summons for the rental and transport costs for two grand pianos.
C2. Sport and Games. Of a victory in a match or game: awarded to a player or team as a result of the withdrawal or disqualification of an opponent, as default victory, default win, etc. Occasionally also of a defeat: suffered as a result of withdrawal or disqualification.
ΚΠ
1908 Daily Express (San Antonio, Texas) 1 Mar. 14/3 Boston won..credit for a default victory the following year.
1972 Titusville (Pa.) Herald 14 July 10/7 The default defeat for THS at 180 came when Karl Womer suffered a shoulder injury.
1981 Guardian 31 Jan. 24/7 Tulasne and Noah have had it relatively easy... One began with a bye, the other with a default win.
2015 Wimmera (Austral.) Mail Times (Nexis) 18 Oct. In B Special competition, Laharum Red was forced to forfeit against Drung South, with the default victory Drung's first from the opening two rounds.
C3.
a. Computing. Designating a preselected setting or option which is adopted automatically by a computer or program whenever an alternative is not specified by the user or programmer. Cf. sense 7a.
ΚΠ
1964 Nucl. Sci. Abstr. 18 5371/2 The guide describes the Monitor operations, control directives, the various intermediate and final outputs, default action, the monitor job form, and instructions to operators.
1971 Computers & Humanities 5 155 Fortran..has more default options (thus requiring far fewer declarations of variables).
1985 Personal Computer World Feb. 211/4 This area is unaffected by any screen operations using the default screen sizes.
1994 PC Mag. 28 June 267/3 The program obtained a list of fonts available on the default printer by calling the EnumFonts function.
2011 Appeal-Democrat (Marysville–Yuba City, Calif.) 21 Dec. c3/1 Google Inc. and Mozilla have agreed to keep Google as the default search engine on the Firefox Web browser for three more years.
b. In extended use: designating an option, state, course of action, etc., which is adopted or reverted to in the absence of conscious choice or viable alternatives; (hence) usual, standard.
ΚΠ
1973 Jrnl. (Chicago) 13 June 8/5 Surrendering to discouragement and despair..is the ‘default option’ and it is the easiest.
1987 Amer. Jrnl. Polit. Sci. 31 8 Viewing Mondale as a ‘default’ choice for Democrats makes considerable sense, given his dominance in the early polls.
1994 Toronto Star 16 July j6/1 Surely, 95 per cent of all driving is done in ‘D’; it should be the ‘default’ position.
2011 Daily Tel. 20 July 25/1 Even in America, where optimism is the default setting, there is a feeling that the march towards higher living standards..is now doing an about-face.
2015 Times (Nexis) 28 Apr. 29 Self-employment has been a default option for many who now earn a living online as freelancers or in e-commerce.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
defaultv.
/dᵻˈfɔːlt/, U.S. /dəˈfɔlt/, /diˈfɔlt/, /dəˈfɑlt/, /diˈfɑlt/ a. intransitive. To be lacking or missing. Obsolete.For a semantically similar later use see sense 4c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > be wanting
trokec1000
lacka1175
wantc1225
missa1250
fail13..
fault1377
defaulta1382
defaila1400
inlaik1533
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Num. xi. 33 Ȝut flesch was in þe teeþ of hem ne defautede [L. defecerat] such amanere mete.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 8572 Riches sal þe defaute nane.
1596 T. Lodge Margarite of Amer. sig. D3 In loue..Cupid dispenseth with an oth, and words are good weapons to winne women, but if either of these haue defaulted in you, blush not, they shall be borne withal.
1712 H. Curzon Universal Libr. II. 32 Some thinking it [sc. silver] imperfect Gold, defaulting only in Colour and Substance.
b. intransitive. To have a lack of; to be deprived of. Obsolete. rare.
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
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 21 (MED) The same fyre semyd to suffre violence, for the Flamys..defawtid of ther power, And vndir certeyne lymytys were restreynyd.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 140 I leve to the my doughtir..and I comaunde the, that she defaute of none thyng..as longeth to a maiden for to have.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)]
withsitc1330
fail1340
defaulta1382
errc1430
to fall (also go) by the wayside1526
misthrive1567
miss1599
to come bad, or no, speedc1600
shrink1608
abortivea1670
maroon1717
to flash in the pan1792
skunk1831
to go to the dickens1833
to miss fire1838
to fall flat1841
fizzle1847
to lose out1858
to fall down1873
to crap out1891
flivver1912
flop1919
skid1920
to lay an egg1929
to blow out1939
to strike out1946
bomb1963
to come (also have) a buster1968
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
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) Judges viii. 5 And he seide..ȝefeþ..louys to þe puple þat is wiþ me for gretliche þei defawtyn [a1425 L.V. for thei failiden greetli; L. quia valde defecerunt].
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) Judges viii. 15 Þat wee ȝifen to þe men þat ben wery & han defawted [L. defecerunt]: louys.
a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) ii. sig. Ev And can your head, your King, Default ye Lords, except your selues do faile?
a1617 P. Baynes Comm. Epist. First Chapter Paul to Ephesians (1618) iv. 84 No inferiour cause can default beside his intention.
3. † c. transitive. To fail to perform (an action or duty); to omit, neglect. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To fail to fulfil an obligation, to fail in one's duty; (Law) to fail to fulfil a legal requirement or obligation; esp. to fail or refuse to appear in court on the day assigned; = to make default at default n. 2a. In early use also: †to commit an error or transgression (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > undutifulness > [verb (intransitive)]
fail1340
default1457
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > fall short of duty [verb (intransitive)] > fail to fulfil obligation
default1457
1457 in F. B. Bickley Little Red Bk. Bristol (1900) II. 185 (MED) What maystur do not..present all that defawted..shall lese for euery defawte vj s.
1477 in M. Sellers York Memorandum Bk. (1912) I. 133 It shalbe lefull to eny maister, apprentez, or servant to wirke in the said misterie..unto the houre of x of the clok at nyght and no longer..and he that defaltz after the said houre of x..leisse xl d.
1586 J. Prime Expos. St. Paul to Galathians iii. 97 If they defaulted by adiecting to the Gospel,..then the simplicity of the Gospel was the single truth which they disobeied.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. iii. sig. Bb4v He..Pardon crau'd for his so rash default, That he gainst courtesie so fowly did default . View more context for this quotation
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 479 This was..punishable if defaulted in.
1736 Madox's Baronia Anglica i. v. 98 Nicolas did not think fit to come; but defaulted; as one that would make no return to the Kings Writ directed to him.
1789 ‘A. Pasquin’ Poems II. 90 High rais'd o'er the rest, see meek Janus exalted, Who ne'er, from the whisp'rings of Conscience, defaulted.
1845 R. W. Hamilton Inst. Pop. Educ. viii. 199 The Dissenters..in the Weekly Schools..are grievously defaulting.
1892 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 15 Jan. 8/3 Delaney was arrested by officers..this morning..He was arrested July 21..and defaulted.
1948 Times 28 July 3/2 The plaintiff was given costs, to be payable only if the defendant defaulted on his undertaking [not to interfere in the spiritual working of the two parishes].
2012 J. Davis Medieval Market Morality iii. 356 The defendant defaulted by failing to appear.
b. transitive. To declare (a person) to have failed in the performance of a duty or obligation. Now Law (chiefly U.S.): to declare (a party in a court case) to have failed to appear, or to have failed to submit information required by the court in time, and to give judgment against the party for this reason. Also: to give judgment against (a party's case) on this basis.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > blame > [verb (transitive)]
accuseOE
witea1000
blamec1200
lastc1225
awreakc1275
friec1300
lack1340
impugn1377
aretc1386
default1489
remord1522
culpate1548
tax1548
finger-point1563
witen1589
attask1608
refounda1653
thank1667
bumble1675
to take to task1682
twitter1749
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > judge or determine judicially [verb (transitive)] > give judgement against > as in default
default1489
society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > [verb (transitive)] > fail to meet (obligations) > declare a defaulter
default1597
hammer1865
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 182 Ihone ye Balleoll, yat swa sone Was all defawtyt & wndone.
1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. xxxiiiiv No man of full age shall be receyued in any plee by the lawe to dyfalte [printed dysalte] or dysable his owne persone.
1597 J. Skene De Verborum Significatione at Sok The court beand fensed, the Serjand thereof sall call the Soytes, and defalt the absentes.
1651 C. G. Cock Eng.-law 76 He ought to be defaulted if he improves not his power to the discharge of his trust, that is the peace and safety of the Commonwealth, though he incurrs the lurch of the Law according to the old Letter.
1795 Z. Swift Syst. Laws Connecticut I. xviii. 192 Every defendant, the writ having been duly served, and returned, who does not appear having been three times called, shall be defaulted.
1819 D. Parker Proscription Delineated 235 In consequence of this neglect, the suits were defaulted.
1885 Amer. Law Reg. 33 209 A. appeared and answered, but was defaulted, which judgment remains in full force.
1936 Pittsburgh Courier 11 Apr. ii. 11/2 After some lapse of time, Mr. Perry did not appear and the court defaulted him.
1992 N.Y. Times 9 Aug. iv. 18/1 Impending problems like an even greater backlog in the courts and the possibility that cases would be defaulted and defendants released.
2003 Northeastern Reporter (Lexis) 2nd Ser. 786 229 Defendant contends that no written appearance was required and, therefore, the court erred in defaulting her for not filing one.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > not do [verb (transitive)] > leave undone or fail to carry out
letc900
overheaveOE
forsakec1175
missa1350
leavea1375
fail1393
forgeta1400
omit?c1422
pretermit1475
neglect1533
to dispense with1559
permit1567
overrun1583
slip1592
default1649
to miss of ——1658
to fail of1723
1649 J. Milton Tenure of Kings 32 Wee shall not need dispute..what they have defaulted towards him as no King.
1686 Sanderson's XXXVI Serm. 388 He that defalteth [1664 defalketh] any thing of that just honour.
4. † c. intransitive. Of money: to be owed but unpaid. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To fail to pay or repay (an amount owed, a debt, etc.).rare before late 19th cent.; cf. to default on (also upon) at sense 4b.
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society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > [verb (transitive)] > fail to meet (obligations)
default1693
skunk1851
1693 Statutes Colledge of Physicians xviii. 136 We will that that fine of twelve pence be increased to two shillings and six pence, so often as it is defaulted.
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 27 Apr. 6/3 Mexico..defaulted her interest after promising to pay 5 per cent.
1941 B. U. Ratchford Amer. State Debts xxi. 519 If the revenue bonds..should ever be defaulted in considerable volume, pressure would be brought to bear upon the states to render financial assistance.
2009 Human Ecol. 37 184/1 The lender occupies the residence until the loan is repaid and has legal claim to title if the loan is defaulted.
b. intransitive. To fail or refuse to meet one's financial commitments; to be unable to repay money owed. Often in to default on (also upon): to fail to repay (a debt, loan, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > [verb (intransitive)] > fail to meet obligations
waddle1771
default1859
1859 N.Y. Times 11 Mar. 8/5 The young city of Racine, in Wisconsin, following the bad examples of other corporations of the State,..has defaulted upon its bonds.
1885 Truth 11 June 925/2 To insist upon Egypt paying her creditors, and to let Turkey default to hers is a palpable contradiction.
1886 Manch. Examiner 9 Jan. 5/1 Last year..44 companies, with 8,386 miles of main line, defaulted and passed into receiverships.
1941 B. U. Ratchford Amer. State Debts iv. 99 While only nine states defaulted, several others barely avoided it.
1993 Guardian 17 July 31/8 All banks pass on ‘black’ information, where a customer has defaulted on their loan or credit line.
1998 Econ. Devel. & Cultural Change 46 618 The financial institution must be aware of the risk that a group may collude to default strategically.
2012 N. Silver Signal & Noise i. 20 Mortgage-backed securities, financial instruments that allowed investors to bet on the likelihood of someone else defaulting on their home.
ΚΠ
1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 121 The Court advised the Captain to account to his Owners for the money which was defaulting.
5. intransitive. To fail to account properly for money over which one has administrative control, esp. through having misappropriated it for oneself; (hence simply) to misappropriate money. Now chiefly: to misappropriate and abscond with. Also occasionally transitive: to misappropriate (money) in this way. Cf. defaulter n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > embezzlement or misappropriation > embezzle or misappropriate [verb (intransitive)]
malverse1640
peculate1730
default1797
defalcate1864
1797 1st Rep. Select Comm. Finance (House of Commons) 124 Against every practice by which payments can be delayed, and temptations to default can be created, it becomes the Executive Government to exert itself with the most rigorous and unremitting attention.
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. viii. iv. 318 There is one Rath..who has been found actually defaulting; peculating from that pious hoard [sc. the Public Treasury].
1904 Southeastern Reporter 46 496/2 He defaulted and misapplied the trust funds so held by him.
1939 A. W. Scott Law of Trusts II. vii. 1185/1 Co-trustee properly entrusted with securities sold securities and defaulted with the proceeds.
2014 J. King G. Hadfield vi. 137 The lottery failed..because the manager defaulted with the money raised.
6. Sport and Games (originally Tennis).
a. intransitive. Of a player, team, etc.: to withdraw from a match or other competition, due to injury, disqualification, etc., and thus be subject to a default (default n. 6); to lose or concede defeat to an opponent by withdrawing from a competition. Also transitive: to lose or concede (a match, game, etc.) in this way.
ΚΠ
1889 E. H. Reynolds Standard Guide St. Augustine 94 The latter..was suddenly called North, and defaulted to Garratt of England, who easily won second prize.
1898 Amer. Chess Mag. Oct. 159/1 Mr. Handy forfeited seven games, Mr. Crofts six, Mr. Lyons one, while Mr. Campbell defaulted nearly all his games.
1917 N.Y. Times 9 May 8/5 A notable competitor among those who defaulted was Miss Marie Wagner,..who forfeited her match to Mrs. D. C. Mills in the second round.
1984 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 8 July ii. 26/5 The World Bridge Federation threatened penalties against teams that defaulted. In 1980 three-year suspensions were imposed on Egypt and Surinam for refusing to play South Africa.
1986 Toronto Star (Nexis) 10 Oct. f6 Cedarbrae Colts in Scarborough have defaulted three consecutive football games for using an ineligible player.
2006 Ace Tennis Oct. 72/1 You couldn't afford to default with an injury. And we were paying all our own expenses.
b. transitive. To eliminate (a player or team) from a match, competition, etc., due to a failure to attend or to comply with the rules, etc. Also: to declare (a match, etc.) a default (default n. 6).
ΚΠ
1897 Official Lawn Tennis Bull. 4 62/2 Any player failing to appear at the appointed time will be defaulted.
1955 Michigan Technic May 54/2 The tournament was played in 3 consecutive days, one round per day, and happily no match was defaulted.
1978 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 30 Jan. Ramblers had to play only one game to reach the final... Their first-round game..was defaulted when the American team arrived late due to weather conditions.
1981 Washington Post (Nexis) 11 Dec. d1 Ashe expects near-perfect behavior from McEnroe..during the Davis Cup final... He will default him if he behaves badly.
2012 Independent 19 June 23/5 The crowd understandably booed as Nalbandian was defaulted and the match ended early.
7. intransitive. With to.
a. Computing. Of a computer program, one of its settings, etc.: to adopt a particular option automatically whenever an alternative is not specified by the user or programmer. Cf. default n. 7a.
ΚΠ
1969 IEEE Trans. Aerospace & Electronic Syst. 5 704/2 The canonical input array option defaults to a minimize on solution unless minimize off is specified.
1983 IBM Syst. Jrnl. 22 258/1 The ACTIVE column and other columns default to the most commonly used values.
1999 Maximum PC July 79/2 Windows defaults to archaic settings no matter what speed your modem and serial port are capable of attaining.
2012 M. L. T. Hepworth Wavelab 7 Power! vii. 125 The Tempo field will default to 120 BPM if you haven't edited that value in the Source column.
b. Of a person, group, etc.: to adopt or revert to a usual, customary, or standard mode of behaviour, course of action, etc., esp. in a challenging situation; to fall back on something, often unthinkingly.
ΚΠ
1987 J. Novak Grand Life 234 He didn't know what to say, so he defaulted to a vintage cigar-store Indian. He sat, smiled, and listened to beautiful strings whine without energy from the stereo.
1993 S. E. Guthrie Faces in Clouds (1995) vii. 204 Analysis may have banished anthropomorphism.., but when analysis fails, perception defaults to a humanlike template.
2006 Total Film Feb. 28/3 Spielberg usually defaults to the snug—from Hooper's survival in Jaws to the tear-wringing of Schindler's postscript.
2014 TD (Nexis) Sept. 72 Consider..the chief marketing officer..of a large manufacturer of paper plates, cups, and napkins. For too long his team defaulted to one idea for increasing sales: discounting.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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