failv.

Brit.

/feɪl/, U.S.

/feɪl/

Forms: Middle English faile-n, (Middle English faylen), Middle English fail(l)i, Middle English–1500s faille(n, faylle, Middle English–1600s faile, (Middle English vaile), fayle, fayly, Middle English–1500s faly(e, (Middle English failly, fal(l)e, feile, 1500s feyle, faeille, 1600s faill, fall), Middle English– fail. ScottishMiddle English–1500s failȝe (1500s–1600s printed failze), (1500s falȝe, 1600s failyie), faillie.

Etymology: < Old French faillir to be wanting, miss (modern French faillir to miss, falloir (impersonal) to be wanting, to be necessary) = Provençal faillir, falhir, Old Spanish fallir (in modern Spanish replaced by the derivative form fallecer, < Latin type *fallescĕre), Catalan fallir, Old Portuguese falir (modern Portuguese falecer), Italian fallire < vulgar Latin *fallīre (for classical Latin fallĕre to deceive), used absol. in sense ‘to disappoint expectation, be wanting or defective.’ The Old French verb was adopted in Middle High German vêlen (modern German fehlen), Dutch feilen, Old Norse feila. In 15–17th cent. in intransitive senses often conjugated with be.

I. To be or become deficient.

a. intransitive. To be absent or wanting. Now only of something necessary or desirable (coinciding with sense 5); often in present participle with noun or pronoun, as failing this = ‘in default of this’ (see failing prep.). In early use, †To be wanting to complete a specified quantity; also impersonal.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > be wanting

trokec1000

lacka1175

wantc1225

missa1250

fail13..

fault1377

defaulta1382

defaila1400

inlaik1533

13.. Pol. Songs (Camden) 202 Trewth is i-faillid with fremid and sibbe.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1486 Of enoch com matusale, Liued..til þat nine hundret yeir war gan And seuenti, falid it bot an.

a1400–50 Alexander 4279 Forþi failis vs all infirmit[e]s of ffeuyre & of ells.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 741 What if fyue faylen of fyfty þe noumbre?

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xvii. 182 There faylethe but 5 Degrees & an half, of the fourthe partie.

c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 63 Make þat þe splentis & byndynge faile above þe wounde.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 284/3 The preues of the lignages were fayled.

1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII c. 1 §6 If suche heyres shulde fayle.

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Sam. iii. 29 Let there not faile from the house of Ioab one that hath an issue.

a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) (Corrections pages), Shaded over head with trees, and with matts when the boughs fail.

1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 58 Failing proof then of invented trouble.

†b. with dative of the person. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1300 Leg. Rood (1871) 30 Þo þe work was almest ido; hem vailed a vair tre.

c1300 St. Brandan 510 Him faillede grace..his lyf to amende.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 71 Alle guodes byeþ ous yfayled.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11426 Þaim fayled neuer drinc ne fode.

1424 Paston Lett. 4 I. 12 Hem fayled ropes convenient to here..purpos.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings ii. 4 There shall not faile thee..a man on the throne of Israel.

c. To be inadequate or insufficient. Chiefly in phrase time would fail. Const. dative of person.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)]

failc1400

to come short1579

insuffice1847

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 548 Tyl any water in þe worlde to wasche þe fayly.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxliiii Kyng James would make no aunswere..knowing that his power now fayled..to performe the request demaunded.

1608 Bp. J. Hall Pharisaisme & Christianity 57 The day would faile mee if I should [etc.].

1611 Bible (King James) Heb. xi. 32 The time would faile mee to tell of Gedeon.

a. To become exhausted, come to an end, run short. Const. dative of the person; also, †of, from (a place, receptacle).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > become scanty or scarce > run out

tirec725

failc1250

dispend1393

wanta1425

expirec1515

defect1587

to run out1685

to fall short1694

to spin out1720

to run short1850

to give out1861

c1250 Old Kentish Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 29 Wyn failede at þise bredale.

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1725) 326 Alle þer store failed.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. iii. 29 He sawȝ, that monee failide of his tresours.

a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 87 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1670 Loke þou spende mesureli, þe gode þat þou liuis bi, or ellis wille hit faile.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. i. sig. B The breath gan him to fayle .

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings xvii. 14 Neither shall the cruse of oile faile .

1611 Bible (King James) Job xiv. 11 The waters faile from the sea.

1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre ii. 58 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Their Provisions being failed, they fed upon Hides.

1695 J. Locke Further Consid. Value Money (ed. 2) 68 Where the credit and money fail, barter alone must do.

1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. xi. 218 All other Enjoyments fail in these Circumstances.

1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. iv. 224 Soon would our food and water fail us here.

1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 154 Health is none where water fails!

b. To become extinct; to die out, lose vitality, pass away. Of an odour or sound: To die away.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > be non-existent [verb (intransitive)] > end or cease to exist

tirec725

endOE

forfareOE

goc1175

fleec1200

to wend awayc1225

diea1240

to-melta1240

to pass awaya1325

flit1340

perishc1350

vanisha1375

decorre1377

cease1382

dispend1393

failc1400

overshakec1425

surcease1439

adrawc1450

fall1523

decease1538

define1562

fleet1576

expire1595

evanish1597

extinguish1599

extirp1606

disappear1623

evaporatea1631

trans-shift1648

annihilate1656

exolve1657

cancela1667

to pass off1699

to burn out, forth1832

spark1845

to die out1853

to come, go, etc. by the board1859

sputter1964

the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > decrease in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (intransitive)] > decline or fall off

afalleOE

swindOE

slakec1315

pairc1390

fade1398

to fall awayc1510

decline1530

to fall off1608

sink1613

recess1641

fail1819

lighten1827

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xv. 68 Machometes lawe sall faile.

1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 18 If the office of Seynt Marie preest fayle.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 393 Of him the airis maill did falȝe.

1611 Bible (King James) Esther ix. 28 These dayes of Purim should not faile from among the Jewes.

1647 C. Cotterell & W. Aylesbury tr. E. C. Davila Hist. Civill Warres France i. 9 The eldest line failing.

1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 239 The blood of the Kempes shall not inherit till the blood of the Stiles's fail.

1770 O. Goldsmith Traveller (ed. 6) 6 Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails.

1819 P. B. Shelley Ind. Serenade The Champak's odours fail Like sweet thoughts in a dream.

1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (ed. 2) III. viii. 120 Religion seems to be failing when it is merely changing its form.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Vision of Sin in Poems (new ed.) II. 214 The music..Rose again from where it seem'd to fail.

†c. Of a period of time or anything that has a finite duration: To come to an end, expire. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > be at an end [verb (intransitive)] > come to an end, terminate, or expire

to run outeOE

endOE

stintc1275

slakea1300

overpassc1350

determinec1374

overruna1393

dispend1393

failc1399

missa1400

to wear out, forth1412

stanchc1420

to come outa1450

terminea1450

expire?c1450

finish1490

conclude1593

upclose1603

terminate1608

to shut up1609

to wind off1650

stop1733

to fall in1771

close1821

to blaze out1884

outgive1893

to play out1964

c1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles ii. 14 Somere hem ffaylid.

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 18 As sone as the triews shall faylle ye shal be guerdoned.

1565 A. Golding tr. Caesar Martiall Exploytes in Gallia iv. f. 96^v The season of the yeare meete for warrefare fayled.

1611 Bible (King James) Heb. i. 12 Thou art the same and thy yeeres shall not fayle .

†d. To cease to speak of. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > cease to mention

letc1275

to let bec1275

to fall awaya1413

stinta1500

failc1650

not to say (pea-) turkey1909

c1650 Merline 1208 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 460 Now let us of his mother fayle, And turne us to another tale.

a. ‘To fall off in respect of vigour or activity’ (W.); to lose power or strength; to flag, wane; to break down; figurative of the heart. Of the eyes, light, etc.: To grow dim.

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

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > break down, collapse, or faint

fail?c1225

swoonc1290

languisha1325

talmc1325

sinkc1400

faintc1440

droopc1540

collapse1879

crock1893

to flake (out)1942

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > types of vision > [verb (intransitive)] > grow dim

fail?c1225

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of heart > have disorder of heart [verb (intransitive)] > stop

fail?c1225

arrest1982

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > of vision: become disordered [verb (intransitive)] > become dim or poor

mistOE

duskc1230

daswen1382

dazec1386

dazzle1481

failc1540

film1844

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 168 Nan deofles puf ne þurðe ȝe dreden. bute þe lim faille [a1250 Nero ualse].

c1275 Laȝamon Brut 2938 Þo holdede þe king [Leir] and failede his mihte.

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience i. 727 At even late he..fayles..and dwynes to noght.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xiii. 7 Eche herte of a man shal wane, or faylen.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) iii. viii. 54 The soule vegetable faylyth and at the laste whan the body deyth, it deyeth.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3549 His sight failet.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. lxxxviii His heart fayled.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 9 I perceave Thy mortal sight to faile .

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. iv. 136 Let slip thine Anchor, the Wind fails.

1743 J. Wesley Jrnl. 20 Oct. (ed. 2) My voice suddenly fail'd.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Julian & Maddalo in Posthumous Poems (1824) 25 The poor sufferer's health began to fail.

1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne iv. 67 The wind..failed.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady Clare in Poems (new ed.) II. 199 Her heart within her did not fail.

1860 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life 1st Ser. (ed. 7) 107 In Scotland it used to be quite common to say of a person whose health and strength had declined, that he had failed.

1881 S. Colvin Life Landor 136 That kind..old lady had been failing since the spring of 1829 and had died in October.

b. with dative of the person (approaching sense 5).

ΚΠ

a1300 Leg. Rood (1871) 20 Þe strengþe him failede of is lymes.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 24001 Gang, and steyuen, and tung, and sight, All failled me þat tide.

a1400–50 Alexander 1443 All failis þam þe force.

1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. H2, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) My sences did faile me.

1611 Bible (King James) Luke xxi. 26 Mens hearts failing them for feare.

1678 Spanish Hist. ii. 61 If my memory fail me not.

1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. ix. 136 His eyesight fails him now.

1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 116 The heart of Eustace failed him.

c. dialect. To fall ill (of).

ΚΠ

1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. (at cited word) As though he was going to fail with the measles.

1876 G. L. Gower Surrey Provincialisms (English Dialect Society no.12. Series C: Original glossaries) Fail of, to fall ill of, to sicken with.

†d. To die. Obsolete. [So Spanish fallecer.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]

forsweltc888

sweltc888

adeadeOE

deadc950

wendeOE

i-wite971

starveOE

witea1000

forfereOE

forthfareOE

forworthc1000

to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE

queleOE

fallOE

to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE

to shed (one's own) blood?a1100

diec1135

endc1175

farec1175

to give up the ghostc1175

letc1200

aswelta1250

leavea1250

to-sweltc1275

to-worthc1275

to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290

finea1300

spilla1300

part?1316

to leese one's life-daysa1325

to nim the way of deathc1325

to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330

flit1340

trance1340

determinec1374

disperisha1382

to go the way of all the eartha1382

to be gathered to one's fathers1382

miscarryc1387

shut1390

goa1393

to die upa1400

expirea1400

fleea1400

to pass awaya1400

to seek out of lifea1400–50

to sye hethena1400

tinea1400

trespass14..

espirec1430

to end one's days?a1439

decease1439

to go away?a1450

ungoc1450

unlivec1450

to change one's lifea1470

vade1495

depart1501

to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513

to decease this world1515

to go over?1520

jet1530

vade1530

to go westa1532

to pick over the perch1532

galpa1535

to die the death1535

to depart to God1548

to go home1561

mort1568

inlaikc1575

shuffle1576

finish1578

to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587

relent1587

unbreathe1589

transpass1592

to lose one's breath1596

to make a die (of it)1611

to go offa1616

fail1623

to go out1635

to peak over the percha1641

exita1652

drop1654

to knock offa1657

to kick upa1658

to pay nature her due1657

ghost1666

to march off1693

to die off1697

pike1697

to drop off1699

tip (over) the perch1699

to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703

sink1718

vent1718

to launch into eternity1719

to join the majority1721

demise1727

to pack off1735

to slip one's cable1751

turf1763

to move off1764

to pop off the hooks1764

to hop off1797

to pass on1805

to go to glory1814

sough1816

to hand in one's accounts1817

to slip one's breatha1819

croak1819

to slip one's wind1819

stiffen1820

weed1824

buy1825

to drop short1826

to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839

to get one's (also the) call1839

to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840

to unreeve one's lifeline1840

to step out1844

to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845

to hand in one's checks1845

to go off the handle1848

to go under1848

succumb1849

to turn one's toes up1851

to peg out1852

walk1858

snuff1864

to go or be up the flume1865

to pass outc1867

to cash in one's chips1870

to go (also pass over) to the majority1883

to cash in1884

to cop it1884

snuff1885

to belly up1886

perch1886

to kick the bucket1889

off1890

to knock over1892

to pass over1897

to stop one1901

to pass in1904

to hand in one's marble1911

the silver cord is loosed1911

pip1913

to cross over1915

conk1917

to check out1921

to kick off1921

to pack up1925

to step off1926

to take the ferry1928

peg1931

to meet one's Maker1933

to kiss off1935

to crease it1959

zonk1968

cark1977

to cark it1979

to take a dirt nap1981

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. ii. 185 Had the King in his last Sicknesse faild .

1878 W. Dickinson Gloss. Words & Phrases Cumberland (ed. 2) Fail, to die.

a. To prove deficient upon trial. †Of fighting men: To give way (before an enemy). Of a material thing: To break down under strain or pressure (archaic). Of a rule, anticipation, sign: To prove misleading.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > retreat

withdraw1297

recoilc1330

faila1400

rere?a1400

give way1413

ruse?a1425

retreata1460

to leave place1487

wandis1487

settle1513

retire1533

retrace1539

dismarch1596

to come off1600

to fall back1602

retraicta1604

give grounda1616

recline1789

exfiltrate1980

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > incorrect information > give wrong information [verb (intransitive)] > prove misleading

faila1400

the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > be dilapidated or ruined > fall into ruins

to-reosea900

fallOE

tumblea1400

ruinate1562

lapse1620

dilapidate1712

fail1776

a1400–50 Alexander 1372 With þat scho [a tower] flisch noþer fayle fyue score aunkirs.

c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 133 Or ellis þou schalt knowe bi þis signe þat nevere failiþ.

?c1425 (c1390) G. Chaucer Fortune 56 In general this rewle may not fayle.

c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 47 Thyng counterfeet wol faylen [printed fayler] at assay.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 396 For yar small folk begouth to failȝe And fled all skalyt her and yar.

1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxxii. 78 Creatures..bred in..fresh Rivers die presently, if they come into Salt water. But this fayleth in some Fishes.

1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 18 The second Pier of the Foot-way, failed and carried off by the Floods.

1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 95 Loop and button failing both At last it [the cloak] flew away.

1815 T. I. M. Forster Res. Atmosph. Phænom. (ed. 2) iv. 155 The abundance of berries in the hedges is said to presage a hard winter, but this often fails.

1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud i. xi, in Maud & Other Poems 39 O let the solid ground Not fail beneath my feet.

b. to fail safe: of a mechanical or electrical device or machine, aircraft, etc., to revert, in the event of failure or breakdown, to a condition involving no danger. Also fail-safe adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > be safe [verb (intransitive)] > revert to safe condition in failure

to fail safe1948

the world > action or operation > safety > [adjective] > safe or not dangerous > specific

foolproof1874

childproof1889

idiot-proof1924

fail-safe1948

1948 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 52 198/1 Automatic power plant control including automatic ‘fail safe’ provision against mechanical trouble or power failure.

1949 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 53 179/1 What was really required was a propeller and c.s.u. combination which would fail safe.

1958 ‘P. Bryant’ Two Hours to Doom 15 The Failsafe procedure, the system SAC had dreamed up to prevent any accidental attack sparking off a third world war.

1958 Times 20 Aug. 9/7 It is becoming accepted practice that they [sc. jet aircraft] must ‘fail safe’.

1958 Listener 16 Oct. 593/1 Designers [of aircraft] learnt how to design against fatigue, and the ‘fail-safe’ form of design was developed.

1959 New Statesman 790/3 Just as atomic bombers have a technical fail-safe device which recalls them from a mission if anything goes wrong, so it is inevitable that every country will have to devise its own political fail-safe policy, designed to insulate itself from the dangers due to other countries' actions.

1962 F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics vii. 317 The component..is as fail-safe as the one tested.

1962 Want to run a Railway? 16 The system is designed throughout on ‘fail-safe’ principles—if any part of it is not working properly then signals automatically go to danger.

1971 Daily Tel. 8 Jan. (Colour Suppl.) 15/4 Because of the possibility of human error and total reliance on communications between pilots and controller the system will ‘fail-dangerous’ rather than ‘fail-safe’.

a. Not to render the due or expected service or aid; to be wanting at need. Chiefly with dative of the person, rarely with to. quasi-transitive: To disappoint, give no help to; to withold help from.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > disappoint, frustrate [verb (transitive)] > let down

faila1300

lotea1325

unsecond1616

to let down1913

fizz1941

to fink out on1966

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > be useless for [verb (transitive)] > be of no use to > in need

trokec1000

faila1300

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail [verb (intransitive)] > be ineffective

faila1300

limpc1540

a1300 Floriz & Bl. 424 Ihc schal þe failli neure mo.

a1300 K. Horn 638 Mi swerd me nolde faille.

c1305 Edmund Conf. 592 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 86 Foreward he huld þis monekes: & ne faillede hem noȝt.

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 99 Sir Lowys failed nouht, his help was him redie.

c1420 Anturs of Arth. xlvi Frettut with fyne gold, that failis in the fiȝte.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 37 Serue the kynge..nor faylle hym not for noo thyng.

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) viii. 58 The inglis men dreymis that ȝe haue failȝet to them.

1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 3 b Al their other weapons in fight have failed them.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 44 If it [the shattered boat] should fail me..said I to myself.

1836 J. Keble Serm. (1848) viii. Postscript 373 The language..fails him..in his endeavour to find words to express the greatness of the gift.

a1847 H. F. Lyte Remains (1850) 119 When other helpers fail, and comforts flee.

1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 222 Here again chronology fails us.

1881 Daily Tel. 28 Jan. In the afternoon the wind failed us.

†b. transitive with double object or const. of: To disappoint of (something due or expected). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > disappoint, frustrate [verb (transitive)] > of something expected

failc1386

dismiss1490

mock1541

to cut short1755

c1386 G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale 188 I wil nought faile yow my thankes.

1647 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 7 Two posts having falled me of intelligence.

II. To have a deficiency or want; to lack.

a. intransitive. To be wanting or deficient in (an essential quality or part).

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

c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 22 Men þat failen in charite.

c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 8 Though somme vers fayle in A sillable.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xiii. 58 Bot ȝit þai faile in sum articles of oure beleue.

1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. L2 Beter to faille a litell in the iustice, than to be superflue in crualte.

1651 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa I. i. iii. 252 You might have fail'd in the knowledg of those perticulers.

1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues I. 110 The Dialogue fails in unity.

b. to fail of: = 7.

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

1307 Elegy Edw. I x, in T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry (1840) I. 94 Of gode knyhtes darh him nout fail.

c1386 G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale 248 Of siluer in thy purs shaltow nat faille.

1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 9 §1 The King..not willing his..subgettis to faill of remedy.

1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. F1 If I fayle not of memorie therein, we hadde once..great speaches of him.

1651 J. Marius Advice Bills of Exchange 24 The drawer of the Bill was failed of his credit.

1671 R. Bohun Disc. Wind 20 When the Atmosphere begins to thicken..wee seldom fail of a Wind.

1713 J. Gay in Guardian 1 Sept. 1/2 A Dancing Master of the lowest Rank seldom fails of the Scarlet Stocking and the Red Heel.

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 150 Whenever the continent shall come to fail of timber.

1867 H. W. Longfellow Giotto's Tower 6 How many lives..Fail of the nimbus which the artists paint Around the shining forehead of the saint.

1884 Manch. Examiner 22 May 5/4 Failing of any other remedy, they grumble.

7. transitive. To be or become deficient in; to lack, want, be without. Now rare.

ΚΠ

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1535 A fust faylaynde þe wryst.

c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2290 He saugh the ladies so whiȝte of ler, Faile brede on here table.

1466 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 334 Send me word..whethere ye haue youre laste dedys that ye fayled.

1483 Festivall (1515) 22 Whan Jacob fayled corne he must nedes sende for more.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xviii. 269 Thai of the host that falit [1489 Adv. faillyt] met.

1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest III. xi. 45 The Primate prayed that their chosen King might never fail the throne.

1883 R. Jefferies Story Heart vii. 115 I fail words to express my utter contempt.

†8. to fail little, not much: to have a narrow escape (of some misadventure). Const. to with infinitive and of with gerund. Also, to fail of: to keep clear of, escape, miss. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [verb (intransitive)] > narrowly

to fail little, not much1624

to squeak through1938

squeak1961

the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > contrive to escape or evade

fleec1175

shunc1275

forgoc1305

passc1330

escapea1340

beglidea1350

voidc1380

shuntc1400

missa1522

evade1535

delude1536

to dally out1548

illude1553

prevent1598

outruna1616

to fail of1624

elude1634

subterfugea1643

shoot1685

shift1724

to get out of ——a1817

win by…1816

1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia i. (1629) 13 We fayled not much to have been cast away.

1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iv. 130 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The Romans Rams..failed little to be all set on fire.

a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. ii. 16 Croesus..failed a little of being burnt alive.

1724 J. Swift Let. to People of Ireland 5 That pernicious Council of sending Base Money hither, very narrowly failed of Losing the Kingdom.

1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 216 A weak prince..seldom fails of having his authority despised.

III. To fall short in performance or attainment.

a. intransitive. To make default; to be a defaulter; to come short of performing one's duty or functions.

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)]

fail1340

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 173 Yef he faileþ at his rekeninge: god nele naȝt faly at his.

1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 30 And qwo falye, schal payen thre pound of wax.

1471 in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS Comm. App. Pt. IV: MSS Duke of Rutland (1888) I. 4 in Parl. Papers (C. 5614) LXIV. 1 I pray you ffayle not now.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 394 Desyrand..To mak redres als far as tha had faillit.

1551 Act Mary (1814) 488 Gif ony Lord..failȝeis and brekis the said act.

1611 Bible (King James) Job xxi. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 534 Nature faild in mee.

1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 324 No one will be less likely..to fail in his religious duties.

†b. transitive. To make default in; to break. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > non-observance or breach > fail to observe [verb (transitive)]

breakOE

to-breaka1067

false1303

forleta1325

loosec1400

to fall from ——a1425

renouncec1450

violate?a1475

enfrain1477

failc1500

falsify1532

transverse1532

infringe1533

crack1576

recess1581

recant1585

digress1592

strain1592

burst1600

equivocate1629

falsy1629

forfeit1654

to break through1712

infract1798

waive1833

welsh1925

c1500 Melusine (1895) 12 Fals kinge, thou hast faylled thy couenaunt.

1655 W. Gouge & T. Gouge Learned Comm. Hebrewes (iii. 5) i. 297 It is a great crime.. to fail trust.

1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 293 These menageries all fail their trust.

†c. To disappoint (expectation). Obsolete. Cf. 5.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > disappoint, frustrate [verb (transitive)] > frustrate, thwart

discomfitc1230

blenk?a1400

mispoint1480

fruster1490

frustrate?a1513

disappoint1545

destitutea1563

foila1564

deceive1571

thwart1581

balka1593

discomfort1596

unwont1629

fail1634

1634 T. Heywood & R. Brome Late Lancashire Witches i. sig. B4 Your Vncle..Hath failed your expectation.

1651 T. Gataker in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus 403 Neither did he therein either faile their estimation, or [etc.].

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. vi. 105 Not altogether to fail the Readers expectation, I shall give a brief account.

10.

a. transitive. To leave undone, omit to perform, miss (some customary or expected action). Obsolete except with infinitive as object.

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

1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 352 To mordre who that woll assente He may nought faile to repente.

1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. biiij/2 He faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr in sacrifyses & oblacions.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxliii. 362 We commaunde you..that this be nat fayled, in as hasty wyse as ye can.

1529 T. Wolsey in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) II. 2 Fayle not therfor to be here thys nygth.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. ii. 16 Let them not faile to burne the fat presently.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 86 My Morning Walk with my Gun, which I seldom fail'd.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 112 Burst be the ear that fails to heed.

1885 C. J. Mathew in Law Times' Rep. 53 779/1 He failed to keep his word.

†b. with gerund as object. Also, to fail of.

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

1723 tr. F. C. Weber Present State Russia I. 105 Such corrupt Habits as could not fail producing an Aversion to him.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. ii. ii. 85 Thomas..whom he had hitherto seldom failed of visiting at least once a Day.

c. With infinitive as object, of a thing, circumstance, situation, influence: not to have the effect of, not to result in (doing something) (usually in negative const.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > not do [verb (transitive)] > not have the effect of

fail1920

1920 Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. 143 Turenne..was a protestant, a circumstance which could not fail to prejudice Louis.

†11.

a. intransitive. To be at fault; to miss the mark, go astray, err. Const. of, from. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > erring > [verb (intransitive)]

misfareeOE

failc1290

stumblec1325

errc1374

crookc1380

miscarryc1390

swervea1400

delire?a1475

pervertc1475

misguide1480

prevaricate1582

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > act wrongly or immorally [verb (intransitive)] > err or go wrong or astray

misfareeOE

wanderc897

dwelec900

miswendOE

misfereOE

misnimc1225

failc1290

to go willa1300

misgoc1300

misstepc1300

errc1315

strayc1325

folly1357

wryc1369

crookc1380

miscarryc1390

ravec1390

astray1393

forloinc1400

delire?a1475

to go wrong?1507

to tread the shoe awrya1542

swerve1576

prevaricate1582

tread awrya1625

the world > movement > impact > striking > strike or deliver blows [verb (intransitive)] > fail to strike

misyengec1275

miss1535

fail1590

to lose aim1611

to fall shorta1688

err1801

c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 95/103 Þou faillest of þin art.

a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xi. 1 Vnnethes ere any funden þat failes noght fra halynes.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxiii. 31 And spiritus prudencie in menye poynt shal fayle Of þat he weneþ wolde falle.

c1440 York Myst. xxiii. 210 In ȝoure faith fayland.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 80 The ordur of our law also in the punnyschment of theft..faylyth much from gud cyvylyte.

1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 17 b If..Mosquettiers in taking their sights, doo faile but the lengthe of a wheate corne in the height of their point.

†b. transitive. To miss (a mark, one's footing, etc.). Also, to fail of. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > miss (one's footing)

fail1470

miss1568

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ix. xxxv The hors fayled footynge, and felle in the Ryuer.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 123 He lansyt furth delyuerly Swa yat ye toyer failȝeit fete.

a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1220 He faylyd of hym, hys hors he hytt.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. clxiii. 201 He fayled nat the Englysshe Knyght, for he strake hym.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 338 He had thought to haue lept agayne to his horse, but he fayled of the Styrop.

†c. transitive. To come short of; to miss, not to obtain. Also absol. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > not obtaining or acquiring > not to obtain [verb (transitive)]

mistec1275

missa1325

tinea1325

fail1377

losea1387

to come short of1570

to fall by1614

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 25 Þe freke þat folwed my wille failled neuere blisse.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iii. 159 Gyue gold al a-boute..to notaries þat non of hem faille.

12.

a. intransitive. To be unsuccessful in an attempt or enterprise. Const. to with infinitive; also in. Said of persons; occasionally of the means.

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

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1463 Now we fande our force, now we fail.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Hypsipyle. 1646 He shal nat fayle The fles to wynne.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. clxiii. 201 And thenglyshe knight thought to haue striken hym with his speare in the targe, but he fayled.

1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 116 Albeit he faillie in probation of the remanent exceptions.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 139 Our envious Foe hath fail'd .

1729 W. Law Serious Call viii. 112 Poor tradesmen that had fail'd in their business.

1775 E. Burke Speech Resol. for Concil. Colonies 14 Conciliation failing,..no further hope of reconciliation is left.

1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) II. 254 They scarcely ever fail to bring out fish.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Gardener's Daughter in Poems (new ed.) II. 20 You scarce can fail to match his masterpiece.

1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 60 Some occupations..can be taken up by men who fail in other work.

b. Of an action, design, etc.: To miscarry, not to succeed.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of an action or plan

failc1394

misfare1489

fro1559

to shoot nipshot1568

miscarry1589

languefya1734

misfire1942

c1394 P. Pl. Crede 98 My purpos is i-failed.

c1450 Why I can't be a nun 151 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 142 My techyng may not fayle.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) Epil. 12 My proiect failes .

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §7. 148 A revolt which failed..through the desertion of their head.

1884 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 25 355 His action..would fail, and he would have to pay the costs.

c. Of crops, seeds, etc.: To be abortive or unproductive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > wither [verb (intransitive)] > fail

fail1297

miscarry1598

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > harvest [verb (intransitive)] > bad harvest or crop failure

fail1297

to run out1772

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 414 Frute faylede all þulke ȝer, & heruest late also.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 34 So semly a sede moȝt fayly not.

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Esdras Their seedes shall faile, through the blasting, and haile.

1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 49 Chuse not those [Grafts] that are very small,..they commonly fayle.

1712 J. Mortimer Art of Husbandry: Pt. II ii. ii. 9 He thinks that very few [Grains] failed.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess i. 18 The year in which our olives fail'd.

d. to fail of: to come short of obtaining or meeting with (an object desired), or of accomplishing or attaining (a purpose, etc.). Now rare except with gerund or vbl. n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail in [verb (transitive)] > fail to reach or attain

to fail of?c1225

to fall short of1590

to fly short of1646

trail1957

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 296 As þach amon þe hefde longe iswunken & faillede..an ende of his hure.

c1315 Shoreham i. 56 Yf þou nelt nauȝt climme þos, Of heuene þou hest yfayled.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) xii. iii. 412 Yf she faylyth..of the pray that she resyth to.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ii. x He fayled of his stroke, and smote the hors neck.

1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. viii. iii. 146 Some fayled of y^e purposed ende.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. x. 39 Fayling of his first attempt to be but like the highest in heaven.

1713 R. Steele in Guardian 31 Mar. 2/1 His Man never failed of bringing in his Prey.

1737 S. Johnson Let. 12 July (1992) I. 13 Could not fail of a favourable Reception.

1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 165 She never can fail of bewitching the reader.

1844 H. Rogers Ess. I. ii. 83 To fail of part of the admiration due to other endowments.

1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 249 Mere perception does not reach being, and therefore fails of truth.

13. To become insolvent or bankrupt. Said of individuals and of mercantile houses, banks, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > financial loss > suffer financial loss [verb (intransitive)] > fail financially

fail1682

smash1839

1682 J. Scarlett Stile of Exchanges 127 If that Endorser fail and be insolvent.

1744 R. North & M. North Life Sir D. North & Rev. J. North 240 Mills, with his Auctioneering, Atlasses, and Projects, failed.

1796 Hull Advertiser 25 June 2/3 Twelve capital houses have failed in different parts of Italy.

1868 J. Bentley Wealth & Politics ii. 81 Thirty-one banks failed in little more than three months.

14.

a. intransitive. To be unsuccessful in an examination, to be ‘plucked’.

b. transitive (colloquial). Of an examiner: To report (a candidate) as having failed; to ‘pluck’.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > examination > examine a candidate [verb (transitive)] > fail a candidate

to turn by1653

pluck1713

flunk1843

plough1854

spin1860

fail1884

pill1908

pip1908

zap1961

1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 6 Mar. 11 He ‘fails’ them all, turns to mistress, ‘Your children are perfect idiots’.

c. transitive. To be unsuccessful in (an examination).

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > examination > examine a candidate [verb (transitive)] > fail an examination

skew1859

fail1906

pip1908

fluff1955

1906 Westm. Gaz. 22 Apr. 3/1 Such [sc. Indian] men applying for positions write, ‘I am a failed B.A.’.

1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay (U.K. ed.) iii. ii. 244 He failed some dreadful examination and had to go into the militia.

1925 E. Wallace Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder v. 168 He..had a sketchy knowledge of the law (on his visiting cards was the inscription ‘Failed LL.B.’).

1971 Daily Tel. 7 Oct. 2/2 The RIBA said that students in the five schools were failing examinations because of low teaching standards.

IV. To deceive.

†15. transitive. nonce-use. To deceive, cheat (Latin fallĕre).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deceive [verb (transitive)]

aschrenchc885

blendc888

swikec950

belirtOE

beswike971

blencha1000

blenka1000

belieOE

becatchc1175

trokec1175

beguile?c1225

biwrench?c1225

guile?c1225

trechec1230

unordainc1300

blink1303

deceivec1320

feintc1330

trechetc1330

misusea1382

blind1382

forgo1382

beglose1393

troil1393

turnc1405

lirt?a1425

abuse?a1439

ludify1447

amuse1480

wilec1480

trump1487

delude?a1505

sile1508

betrumpa1522

blear1530

aveugle1543

mislippen1552

pot1560

disglose1565

oversile1568

blaze1570

blirre1570

bleck1573

overtake1581

fail1590

bafflea1592

blanch1592

geck?a1600

hallucinate1604

hoodwink1610

intrigue1612

guggle1617

nigglea1625

nose-wipe1628

cog1629

cheat1637

flam1637

nurse1639

jilt1660

top1663

chaldese1664

bilk1672

bejuggle1680

nuzzlec1680

snub1694

bite1709

nebus1712

fugle1719

to take in1740

have?1780

quirk1791

rum1812

rattlesnake1818

chicane1835

to suck in1842

mogue1854

blinker1865

to have on1867

mag1869

sleight1876

bumfuzzle1878

swop1890

wool1890

spruce1917

jive1928

shit1934

smokescreen1950

dick1964

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xi. sig. Nn8 So liuely and so like, that liuing sence it fayld.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	fail
释义	† failn.¹ Forms: Also 1500s fale, 1500s–1700s faill, 1700s feal. Etymology: ? < Gaelic fàl a sod. Scottish. Obsolete. 1. ‘Any grassy part of the surface of the ground, as united to the rest’ (Jamieson). ΚΠ a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xii. Prol. 88 The variand vestur of the venust vaill Schrowdis the scherald fur, and euery faill. 2. ‘A turf, a flat clod covered with grass cut off from the rest of the sward’ (Jamieson). Also turf, as a material. ΚΠ 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 146 Euerie man ane flaik sould mak of tre, And faillis delf into greit quantitie. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. v. iv. f. 56^v/1 He beildit ane huge wall of fail and deuait. c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 209 Cloiss wp..[the port] stronglie with thik faill. 1708 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1743) ii. iii. i. 400 Every minister has fewel, foggage, faill, and diviots allowed them. Compounds fail-dyke n. a wall built of sods. ΚΠ 1536 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. I. 174* The overthrowing of a ‘faill-dyke’ built on the said lands. 1803 in W. Scott Minstrelsy Sc. Border (ed. 2) III. 241 Behint yon auld fail dyke, I wot there lies a new slain knight. 1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. v. 132 Auld Edie will hirple out himsel if he can get a feal-dike to lay his gun ower. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022). failn.² Brit. /feɪl/, U.S. /feɪl/ Forms: Also failyie n. Etymology: < Old French faile, faille, deficiency, failure, fault, < faillir to fail v. 1. = failure n. 1. Obsolete except in phrase without fail; now used only to strengthen an injunction or a promise; formerly also with statements of fact, = unquestionably, certainly. †Also, in same sense, (it is) no fail (but), sans fail: without any doubt, for certain. 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 fail1297 defaultc1330 defaultinga1475 delinquishment1593 delinquency1606 delinquence1613 deliquity1682 dereliction1778 derelictness1888 the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase] to iwissea1000 mid iwissea1000 in wisc1000 to wis(se)c1000 without(en (any) weenc1175 sans fail1297 thereof no strife1297 but werea1300 forouten werea1300 out of werea1300 without werea1300 without deceit1303 for certainc1320 it is to wittingc1320 withouten carec1320 without nayc1330 without noc1330 without (but out of) dread1340 no doubtc1380 without distancec1390 no fresea1400 out of doubta1400 without doubta1400 for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400 withouten stance14.. hazel woods shakea1413 of, on, in warrantisec1440 sure enough?1440 without question?1440 wythout diswerec1440 without any dispayrec1470 for (also of) a surety?a1475 in (also for) surenessa1475 of certainc1485 without any (also all) naya1500 out of question?1526 past question?1526 for sure1534 what else1540 beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542 to be a bidden by1549 out of (also without) all cry1565 with a witness1579 upon my word1591 no question1594 out of all suspicion1600 for a certain1608 without scruple1612 to be sure1615 that's pos1710 in course1722 beyond (all) question1817 (and) no mistake1818 no two ways about it (also that)1818 of course1823 bien entendu1844 yessiree1846 you bet you1857 make no mistake1876 acourse1883 sans doute1890 how are you?1918 you bet your bippy1968 the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > certain prospect or possession > [adverb] (it is) no fail (but)1297 alsaufc1300 without lackc1300 without (any) faultc1325 sickerly1340 without lipsea1380 surelyc1380 for, without (any) failinga1382 sure?a1475 securely1597 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 245 Þer wyþoute fayle, At Eccestre strong enou hii smyte an batayle. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1725) 245 In luf & pes sanz faile went Edward. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1092 Comaunded hire massangerys for to go The same day with outyn any fayle. c1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1544) viii. xvii. 188 b In Europe stant Thrace..it is no fayle. 1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke i. xvi. 29 a It is no fayle but it [the knowledge of medecines] was perceyued, by what thinges were wholsome, & what unwholsome. ?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter l. 145 I wil (no fayle) deliuer thee. 1611 Bible (King James) Josh. iii. 10 The liuing God..will without faile driue out from before you the Canaanites. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) v. i. 27 Dangers, by his Highnesse faile of Issue, May drop vpon his Kingdome. View more context for this quotation 1656 T. Burton Diary (1828) I. 176 There is no fail of justice..yet. 1678 R. Cudworth tr. Plutarch in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iii. 128 There might be never any Fail of Generations. 1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 26 Feb. (1948) II. 628 The meeting of Parlmt, wch will be next Tuesday..without fail. 1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. iv. 95 The tailor has promised the clothes on Saturday without fail. †2. = failure n. 3 for fail: in the event of failure; as a precaution against failure. Obsolete. 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 > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > [adverb] > to avoid failure for fail1660 1477 T. Norton Ordinall of Alchimy ii, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 29 Of all paines the most grevious paine, Is for one faile to beginn all againe. 1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xci. sig. Aa5 The Prince suffers in the failes of his Ambassadour. 1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 98 Be sure you plow up..annoying weeds, and for fail let some~body, with a spade, follow the plough, to root up such as are left. a1734 R. North Examen (1740) ii. iv. §84 272 They continually watched for Colours, and for Fail, made them, to affirm this. †3. a. = failure n. 2. Obsolete. 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] > state of being limited in amount > fact of running out defaultinga1382 running outa1398 dryness1625 failancea1627 fail1654 failure1695 dry-up1940 1654 T. Gataker Disc. Apol. 47 Chalkie Pillars..threatning a fail, if not a fall. 1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 287 Overmuch sorrow..upon the faile of any earthly helps or hopes. †b. Death. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > [noun] hensithOE qualmOE bale-sithea1000 endingc1000 fallOE forthsitheOE soulingOE life's endOE deathOE hethensithc1200 last end?c1225 forthfarec1275 dying1297 finec1300 partingc1300 endc1305 deceasec1330 departc1330 starving1340 passingc1350 latter enda1382 obita1382 perishingc1384 carrion1387 departing1388 finishmentc1400 trespassement14.. passing forthc1410 sesse1417 cess1419 fininga1425 resolutiona1425 departisona1450 passagea1450 departmentc1450 consummation?a1475 dormition1483 debt to (also of) naturea1513 dissolutionc1522 expirationa1530 funeral?a1534 change1543 departure1558 last change1574 transmigration1576 dissolving1577 shaking of the sheets?1577 departance1579 deceasure1580 mortality1582 deceasing1591 waftage1592 launching1599 quietus1603 doom1609 expire1612 expiring1612 period1613 defunctiona1616 Lethea1616 fail1623 dismissiona1631 set1635 passa1645 disanimation1646 suffering1651 abition1656 Passovera1662 latter (last) end1670 finis1682 exitus1706 perch1722 demission1735 demise1753 translation1760 transit1764 dropping1768 expiry1790 departal1823 finish1826 homegoing1866 the last (also final, great) round-up1879 snuffing1922 fade-out1924 thirty1929 appointment in Samarra1934 dirt nap1981 big chill1987 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. ii. 146 How grounded hee his Title to the Crowne Vpon our faile . View more context for this quotation Draft additions 1993 b. A failure to achieve the standard required to pass an examination; a classification denoting this. Cf. pass n.⁴ 4 and pass-fail adj. ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > marks > failure of candidate deplumation1834 fizzle1846 flunk1846 pluck1852 fail1944 1944 J. L. Brereton Case for Examinations 206 The marks..have fulfilled their purpose when they have enabled the examiners to classify the candidates in each subject separately as ‘pass’ or ‘fail’. 1988 M. Warnock Common Policy for Educ. iii. 78 In this way [Grade] F must soon be interpreted as standing for ‘Fail’. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022). failv. Brit. /feɪl/, U.S. /feɪl/ Forms: Middle English faile-n, (Middle English faylen), Middle English fail(l)i, Middle English–1500s faille(n, faylle, Middle English–1600s faile, (Middle English vaile), fayle, fayly, Middle English–1500s faly(e, (Middle English failly, fal(l)e, feile, 1500s feyle, faeille, 1600s faill, fall), Middle English– fail. ScottishMiddle English–1500s failȝe (1500s–1600s printed failze), (1500s falȝe, 1600s failyie), faillie. Etymology: < Old French faillir to be wanting, miss (modern French faillir to miss, falloir (impersonal) to be wanting, to be necessary) = Provençal faillir, falhir, Old Spanish fallir (in modern Spanish replaced by the derivative form fallecer, < Latin type fallescĕre), Catalan fallir, Old Portuguese falir* (modern Portuguese falecer), Italian fallire < vulgar Latin fallīre (for classical Latin fallĕre* to deceive), used absol. in sense ‘to disappoint expectation, be wanting or defective.’ The Old French verb was adopted in Middle High German vêlen (modern German fehlen), Dutch feilen, Old Norse feila. In 15–17th cent. in intransitive senses often conjugated with be. I. To be or become deficient. 1. a. intransitive. To be absent or wanting. Now only of something necessary or desirable (coinciding with sense 5); often in present participle with noun or pronoun, as failing this = ‘in default of this’ (see failing prep.). In early use, †To be wanting to complete a specified quantity; also impersonal. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > be wanting trokec1000 lacka1175 wantc1225 missa1250 fail13.. fault1377 defaulta1382 defaila1400 inlaik1533 13.. Pol. Songs (Camden) 202 Trewth is i-faillid with fremid and sibbe. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1486 Of enoch com matusale, Liued..til þat nine hundret yeir war gan And seuenti, falid it bot an. a1400–50 Alexander 4279 Forþi failis vs all infirmit[e]s of ffeuyre & of ells. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 741 What if fyue faylen of fyfty þe noumbre? c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xvii. 182 There faylethe but 5 Degrees & an half, of the fourthe partie. c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 63 Make þat þe splentis & byndynge faile above þe wounde. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 284/3 The preues of the lignages were fayled. 1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII c. 1 §6 If suche heyres shulde fayle. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Sam. iii. 29 Let there not faile from the house of Ioab one that hath an issue. View more context for this quotation a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) (Corrections pages), Shaded over head with trees, and with matts when the boughs fail. 1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 58 Failing proof then of invented trouble. †b. with dative of the person. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1300 Leg. Rood (1871) 30 Þo þe work was almest ido; hem vailed a vair tre. c1300 St. Brandan 510 Him faillede grace..his lyf to amende. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 71 Alle guodes byeþ ous yfayled. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11426 Þaim fayled neuer drinc ne fode. 1424 Paston Lett. 4 I. 12 Hem fayled ropes convenient to here..purpos. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings ii. 4 There shall not faile thee..a man on the throne of Israel. View more context for this quotation c. To be inadequate or insufficient. Chiefly in phrase time would fail. Const. dative of person. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] failc1400 to come short1579 insuffice1847 c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 548 Tyl any water in þe worlde to wasche þe fayly. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxliiii Kyng James would make no aunswere..knowing that his power now fayled..to performe the request demaunded. 1608 Bp. J. Hall Pharisaisme & Christianity 57 The day would faile mee if I should [etc.]. 1611 Bible (King James) Heb. xi. 32 The time would faile mee to tell of Gedeon. View more context for this quotation 2. a. To become exhausted, come to an end, run short. Const. dative of the person; also, †of, from (a place, receptacle). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > become scanty or scarce > run out tirec725 failc1250 dispend1393 wanta1425 expirec1515 defect1587 to run out1685 to fall short1694 to spin out1720 to run short1850 to give out1861 c1250 Old Kentish Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 29 Wyn failede at þise bredale. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1725) 326 Alle þer store failed. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. iii. 29 He sawȝ, that monee failide of his tresours. a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 87 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1670 Loke þou spende mesureli, þe gode þat þou liuis bi, or ellis wille hit faile. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. i. sig. B The breath gan him to fayle . View more context for this quotation 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings xvii. 14 Neither shall the cruse of oile faile . View more context for this quotation 1611 Bible (King James) Job xiv. 11 The waters faile from the sea. View more context for this quotation 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre ii. 58 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Their Provisions being failed, they fed upon Hides. 1695 J. Locke Further Consid. Value Money (ed. 2) 68 Where the credit and money fail, barter alone must do. 1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. xi. 218 All other Enjoyments fail in these Circumstances. 1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. iv. 224 Soon would our food and water fail us here. 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 154 Health is none where water fails! b. To become extinct; to die out, lose vitality, pass away. Of an odour or sound: To die away. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > be non-existent [verb (intransitive)] > end or cease to exist tirec725 endOE forfareOE goc1175 fleec1200 to wend awayc1225 diea1240 to-melta1240 to pass awaya1325 flit1340 perishc1350 vanisha1375 decorre1377 cease1382 dispend1393 failc1400 overshakec1425 surcease1439 adrawc1450 fall1523 decease1538 define1562 fleet1576 expire1595 evanish1597 extinguish1599 extirp1606 disappear1623 evaporatea1631 trans-shift1648 annihilate1656 exolve1657 cancela1667 to pass off1699 to burn out, forth1832 spark1845 to die out1853 to come, go, etc. by the board1859 sputter1964 the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > decrease in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (intransitive)] > decline or fall off afalleOE swindOE slakec1315 pairc1390 fade1398 to fall awayc1510 decline1530 to fall off1608 sink1613 recess1641 fail1819 lighten1827 c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xv. 68 Machometes lawe sall faile. 1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 18 If the office of Seynt Marie preest fayle. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 393 Of him the airis maill did falȝe. 1611 Bible (King James) Esther ix. 28 These dayes of Purim should not faile from among the Jewes. View more context for this quotation 1647 C. Cotterell & W. Aylesbury tr. E. C. Davila Hist. Civill Warres France i. 9 The eldest line failing. 1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 239 The blood of the Kempes shall not inherit till the blood of the Stiles's fail. 1770 O. Goldsmith Traveller (ed. 6) 6 Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails. 1819 P. B. Shelley Ind. Serenade The Champak's odours fail Like sweet thoughts in a dream. 1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (ed. 2) III. viii. 120 Religion seems to be failing when it is merely changing its form. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Vision of Sin in Poems (new ed.) II. 214 The music..Rose again from where it seem'd to fail. †c. Of a period of time or anything that has a finite duration: To come to an end, expire. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > be at an end [verb (intransitive)] > come to an end, terminate, or expire to run outeOE endOE stintc1275 slakea1300 overpassc1350 determinec1374 overruna1393 dispend1393 failc1399 missa1400 to wear out, forth1412 stanchc1420 to come outa1450 terminea1450 expire?c1450 finish1490 conclude1593 upclose1603 terminate1608 to shut up1609 to wind off1650 stop1733 to fall in1771 close1821 to blaze out1884 outgive1893 to play out1964 c1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles ii. 14 Somere hem ffaylid. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 18 As sone as the triews shall faylle ye shal be guerdoned. 1565 A. Golding tr. Caesar Martiall Exploytes in Gallia iv. f. 96^v The season of the yeare meete for warrefare fayled. 1611 Bible (King James) Heb. i. 12 Thou art the same and thy yeeres shall not fayle . View more context for this quotation †d. To cease to speak of. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > cease to mention letc1275 to let bec1275 to fall awaya1413 stinta1500 failc1650 not to say (pea-) turkey1909 c1650 Merline 1208 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 460 Now let us of his mother fayle, And turne us to another tale. 3. a. ‘To fall off in respect of vigour or activity’ (W.); to lose power or strength; to flag, wane; to break down; figurative of the heart. Of the eyes, light, etc.: To grow dim. 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 the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > break down, collapse, or faint fail?c1225 swoonc1290 languisha1325 talmc1325 sinkc1400 faintc1440 droopc1540 collapse1879 crock1893 to flake (out)1942 the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > types of vision > [verb (intransitive)] > grow dim fail?c1225 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of heart > have disorder of heart [verb (intransitive)] > stop fail?c1225 arrest1982 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > of vision: become disordered [verb (intransitive)] > become dim or poor mistOE duskc1230 daswen1382 dazec1386 dazzle1481 failc1540 film1844 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 168 Nan deofles puf ne þurðe ȝe dreden. bute þe lim faille [a1250 Nero ualse]. c1275 Laȝamon Brut 2938 Þo holdede þe king [Leir] and failede his mihte. 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience i. 727 At even late he..fayles..and dwynes to noght. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xiii. 7 Eche herte of a man shal wane, or faylen. 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) iii. viii. 54 The soule vegetable faylyth and at the laste whan the body deyth, it deyeth. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3549 His sight failet. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. lxxxviii His heart fayled. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 9 I perceave Thy mortal sight to faile . View more context for this quotation 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. iv. 136 Let slip thine Anchor, the Wind fails. 1743 J. Wesley Jrnl. 20 Oct. (ed. 2) My voice suddenly fail'd. a1822 P. B. Shelley Julian & Maddalo in Posthumous Poems (1824) 25 The poor sufferer's health began to fail. 1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne iv. 67 The wind..failed. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady Clare in Poems (new ed.) II. 199 Her heart within her did not fail. 1860 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life 1st Ser. (ed. 7) 107 In Scotland it used to be quite common to say of a person whose health and strength had declined, that he had failed. 1881 S. Colvin Life Landor 136 That kind..old lady had been failing since the spring of 1829 and had died in October. b. with dative of the person (approaching sense 5). ΚΠ a1300 Leg. Rood (1871) 20 Þe strengþe him failede of is lymes. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 24001 Gang, and steyuen, and tung, and sight, All failled me þat tide. a1400–50 Alexander 1443 All failis þam þe force. 1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. H2, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) My sences did faile me. 1611 Bible (King James) Luke xxi. 26 Mens hearts failing them for feare. View more context for this quotation 1678 Spanish Hist. ii. 61 If my memory fail me not. 1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. ix. 136 His eyesight fails him now. 1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 116 The heart of Eustace failed him. c. dialect. To fall ill (of). ΚΠ 1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. (at cited word) As though he was going to fail with the measles. 1876 G. L. Gower Surrey Provincialisms (English Dialect Society no.12. Series C: Original glossaries) Fail of, to fall ill of, to sicken with. †d. To die. Obsolete. [So Spanish fallecer.] ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] forsweltc888 sweltc888 adeadeOE deadc950 wendeOE i-wite971 starveOE witea1000 forfereOE forthfareOE forworthc1000 to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE queleOE fallOE to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE to shed (one's own) blood?a1100 diec1135 endc1175 farec1175 to give up the ghostc1175 letc1200 aswelta1250 leavea1250 to-sweltc1275 to-worthc1275 to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290 finea1300 spilla1300 part?1316 to leese one's life-daysa1325 to nim the way of deathc1325 to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330 flit1340 trance1340 determinec1374 disperisha1382 to go the way of all the eartha1382 to be gathered to one's fathers1382 miscarryc1387 shut1390 goa1393 to die upa1400 expirea1400 fleea1400 to pass awaya1400 to seek out of lifea1400–50 to sye hethena1400 tinea1400 trespass14.. espirec1430 to end one's days?a1439 decease1439 to go away?a1450 ungoc1450 unlivec1450 to change one's lifea1470 vade1495 depart1501 to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513 to decease this world1515 to go over?1520 jet1530 vade1530 to go westa1532 to pick over the perch1532 galpa1535 to die the death1535 to depart to God1548 to go home1561 mort1568 inlaikc1575 shuffle1576 finish1578 to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587 relent1587 unbreathe1589 transpass1592 to lose one's breath1596 to make a die (of it)1611 to go offa1616 fail1623 to go out1635 to peak over the percha1641 exita1652 drop1654 to knock offa1657 to kick upa1658 to pay nature her due1657 ghost1666 to march off1693 to die off1697 pike1697 to drop off1699 tip (over) the perch1699 to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703 sink1718 vent1718 to launch into eternity1719 to join the majority1721 demise1727 to pack off1735 to slip one's cable1751 turf1763 to move off1764 to pop off the hooks1764 to hop off1797 to pass on1805 to go to glory1814 sough1816 to hand in one's accounts1817 to slip one's breatha1819 croak1819 to slip one's wind1819 stiffen1820 weed1824 buy1825 to drop short1826 to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839 to get one's (also the) call1839 to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840 to unreeve one's lifeline1840 to step out1844 to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845 to hand in one's checks1845 to go off the handle1848 to go under1848 succumb1849 to turn one's toes up1851 to peg out1852 walk1858 snuff1864 to go or be up the flume1865 to pass outc1867 to cash in one's chips1870 to go (also pass over) to the majority1883 to cash in1884 to cop it1884 snuff1885 to belly up1886 perch1886 to kick the bucket1889 off1890 to knock over1892 to pass over1897 to stop one1901 to pass in1904 to hand in one's marble1911 the silver cord is loosed1911 pip1913 to cross over1915 conk1917 to check out1921 to kick off1921 to pack up1925 to step off1926 to take the ferry1928 peg1931 to meet one's Maker1933 to kiss off1935 to crease it1959 zonk1968 cark1977 to cark it1979 to take a dirt nap1981 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. ii. 185 Had the King in his last Sicknesse faild . View more context for this quotation 1878 W. Dickinson Gloss. Words & Phrases Cumberland (ed. 2) Fail, to die. 4. a. To prove deficient upon trial. †Of fighting men: To give way (before an enemy). Of a material thing: To break down under strain or pressure (archaic). Of a rule, anticipation, sign: To prove misleading. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > retreat withdraw1297 recoilc1330 faila1400 rere?a1400 give way1413 ruse?a1425 retreata1460 to leave place1487 wandis1487 settle1513 retire1533 retrace1539 dismarch1596 to come off1600 to fall back1602 retraicta1604 give grounda1616 recline1789 exfiltrate1980 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > incorrect information > give wrong information [verb (intransitive)] > prove misleading faila1400 the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > be dilapidated or ruined > fall into ruins to-reosea900 fallOE tumblea1400 ruinate1562 lapse1620 dilapidate1712 fail1776 a1400–50 Alexander 1372 With þat scho [a tower] flisch noþer fayle fyue score aunkirs. c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 133 Or ellis þou schalt knowe bi þis signe þat nevere failiþ. ?c1425 (c1390) G. Chaucer Fortune 56 In general this rewle may not fayle. c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 47 Thyng counterfeet wol faylen [printed fayler] at assay. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 396 For yar small folk begouth to failȝe And fled all skalyt her and yar. 1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxxii. 78 Creatures..bred in..fresh Rivers die presently, if they come into Salt water. But this fayleth in some Fishes. 1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 18 The second Pier of the Foot-way, failed and carried off by the Floods. 1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 95 Loop and button failing both At last it [the cloak] flew away. 1815 T. I. M. Forster Res. Atmosph. Phænom. (ed. 2) iv. 155 The abundance of berries in the hedges is said to presage a hard winter, but this often fails. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud i. xi, in Maud & Other Poems 39 O let the solid ground Not fail beneath my feet. b. to fail safe: of a mechanical or electrical device or machine, aircraft, etc., to revert, in the event of failure or breakdown, to a condition involving no danger. Also fail-safe adj. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > be safe [verb (intransitive)] > revert to safe condition in failure to fail safe1948 the world > action or operation > safety > [adjective] > safe or not dangerous > specific foolproof1874 childproof1889 idiot-proof1924 fail-safe1948 1948 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 52 198/1 Automatic power plant control including automatic ‘fail safe’ provision against mechanical trouble or power failure. 1949 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 53 179/1 What was really required was a propeller and c.s.u. combination which would fail safe. 1958 ‘P. Bryant’ Two Hours to Doom 15 The Failsafe procedure, the system SAC had dreamed up to prevent any accidental attack sparking off a third world war. 1958 Times 20 Aug. 9/7 It is becoming accepted practice that they [sc. jet aircraft] must ‘fail safe’. 1958 Listener 16 Oct. 593/1 Designers [of aircraft] learnt how to design against fatigue, and the ‘fail-safe’ form of design was developed. 1959 New Statesman 790/3 Just as atomic bombers have a technical fail-safe device which recalls them from a mission if anything goes wrong, so it is inevitable that every country will have to devise its own political fail-safe policy, designed to insulate itself from the dangers due to other countries' actions. 1962 F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics vii. 317 The component..is as fail-safe as the one tested. 1962 Want to run a Railway? 16 The system is designed throughout on ‘fail-safe’ principles—if any part of it is not working properly then signals automatically go to danger. 1971 Daily Tel. 8 Jan. (Colour Suppl.) 15/4 Because of the possibility of human error and total reliance on communications between pilots and controller the system will ‘fail-dangerous’ rather than ‘fail-safe’. 5. a. Not to render the due or expected service or aid; to be wanting at need. Chiefly with dative of the person, rarely with to. quasi-transitive: To disappoint, give no help to; to withold help from. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > disappoint, frustrate [verb (transitive)] > let down faila1300 lotea1325 unsecond1616 to let down1913 fizz1941 to fink out on1966 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > be useless for [verb (transitive)] > be of no use to > in need trokec1000 faila1300 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail [verb (intransitive)] > be ineffective faila1300 limpc1540 a1300 Floriz & Bl. 424 Ihc schal þe failli neure mo. a1300 K. Horn 638 Mi swerd me nolde faille. c1305 Edmund Conf. 592 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 86 Foreward he huld þis monekes: & ne faillede hem noȝt. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 99 Sir Lowys failed nouht, his help was him redie. c1420 Anturs of Arth. xlvi Frettut with fyne gold, that failis in the fiȝte. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 37 Serue the kynge..nor faylle hym not for noo thyng. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) viii. 58 The inglis men dreymis that ȝe haue failȝet to them. 1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 3 b Al their other weapons in fight have failed them. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 44 If it [the shattered boat] should fail me..said I to myself. 1836 J. Keble Serm. (1848) viii. Postscript 373 The language..fails him..in his endeavour to find words to express the greatness of the gift. a1847 H. F. Lyte Remains (1850) 119 When other helpers fail, and comforts flee. 1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 222 Here again chronology fails us. 1881 Daily Tel. 28 Jan. In the afternoon the wind failed us. †b. transitive with double object or const. of: To disappoint of (something due or expected). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > disappoint, frustrate [verb (transitive)] > of something expected failc1386 dismiss1490 mock1541 to cut short1755 c1386 G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale 188 I wil nought faile yow my thankes. 1647 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 7 Two posts having falled me of intelligence. II. To have a deficiency or want; to lack. 6. a. intransitive. To be wanting or deficient in (an essential quality or part). 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 c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 22 Men þat failen in charite. c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 8 Though somme vers fayle in A sillable. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xiii. 58 Bot ȝit þai faile in sum articles of oure beleue. 1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. L2 Beter to faille a litell in the iustice, than to be superflue in crualte. 1651 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa I. i. iii. 252 You might have fail'd in the knowledg of those perticulers. 1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues I. 110 The Dialogue fails in unity. b. to fail of: = 7. 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 1307 Elegy Edw. I x, in T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry (1840) I. 94 Of gode knyhtes darh him nout fail. c1386 G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale 248 Of siluer in thy purs shaltow nat faille. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 9 §1 The King..not willing his..subgettis to faill of remedy. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. F1 If I fayle not of memorie therein, we hadde once..great speaches of him. 1651 J. Marius Advice Bills of Exchange 24 The drawer of the Bill was failed of his credit. 1671 R. Bohun Disc. Wind 20 When the Atmosphere begins to thicken..wee seldom fail of a Wind. 1713 J. Gay in Guardian 1 Sept. 1/2 A Dancing Master of the lowest Rank seldom fails of the Scarlet Stocking and the Red Heel. 1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 150 Whenever the continent shall come to fail of timber. 1867 H. W. Longfellow Giotto's Tower 6 How many lives..Fail of the nimbus which the artists paint Around the shining forehead of the saint. 1884 Manch. Examiner 22 May 5/4 Failing of any other remedy, they grumble. 7. transitive. To be or become deficient in; to lack, want, be without. Now rare. ΚΠ c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1535 A fust faylaynde þe wryst. c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2290 He saugh the ladies so whiȝte of ler, Faile brede on here table. 1466 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 334 Send me word..whethere ye haue youre laste dedys that ye fayled. 1483 Festivall (1515) 22 Whan Jacob fayled corne he must nedes sende for more. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xviii. 269 Thai of the host that falit [1489 Adv. faillyt] met. 1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest III. xi. 45 The Primate prayed that their chosen King might never fail the throne. 1883 R. Jefferies Story Heart vii. 115 I fail words to express my utter contempt. †8. to fail little, not much: to have a narrow escape (of some misadventure). Const. to with infinitive and of with gerund. Also, to fail of: to keep clear of, escape, miss. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [verb (intransitive)] > narrowly to fail little, not much1624 to squeak through1938 squeak1961 the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > contrive to escape or evade fleec1175 shunc1275 forgoc1305 passc1330 escapea1340 beglidea1350 voidc1380 shuntc1400 missa1522 evade1535 delude1536 to dally out1548 illude1553 prevent1598 outruna1616 to fail of1624 elude1634 subterfugea1643 shoot1685 shift1724 to get out of ——a1817 win by…1816 1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia i. (1629) 13 We fayled not much to have been cast away. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iv. 130 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The Romans Rams..failed little to be all set on fire. a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. ii. 16 Croesus..failed a little of being burnt alive. 1724 J. Swift Let. to People of Ireland 5 That pernicious Council of sending Base Money hither, very narrowly failed of Losing the Kingdom. 1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 216 A weak prince..seldom fails of having his authority despised. III. To fall short in performance or attainment. 9. a. intransitive. To make default; to be a defaulter; to come short of performing one's duty or functions. 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)] fail1340 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 173 Yef he faileþ at his rekeninge: god nele naȝt faly at his. 1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 30 And qwo falye, schal payen thre pound of wax. 1471 in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS Comm. App. Pt. IV: MSS Duke of Rutland (1888) I. 4 in Parl. Papers (C. 5614) LXIV. 1 I pray you ffayle not now. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 394 Desyrand..To mak redres als far as tha had faillit. 1551 Act Mary (1814) 488 Gif ony Lord..failȝeis and brekis the said act. 1611 Bible (King James) Job xxi. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 534 Nature faild in mee. View more context for this quotation 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 324 No one will be less likely..to fail in his religious duties. †b. transitive. To make default in; to break. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > non-observance or breach > fail to observe [verb (transitive)] breakOE to-breaka1067 false1303 forleta1325 loosec1400 to fall from ——a1425 renouncec1450 violate?a1475 enfrain1477 failc1500 falsify1532 transverse1532 infringe1533 crack1576 recess1581 recant1585 digress1592 strain1592 burst1600 equivocate1629 falsy1629 forfeit1654 to break through1712 infract1798 waive1833 welsh1925 c1500 Melusine (1895) 12 Fals kinge, thou hast faylled thy couenaunt. 1655 W. Gouge & T. Gouge Learned Comm. Hebrewes (iii. 5) i. 297 It is a great crime.. to fail trust. 1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 293 These menageries all fail their trust. View more context for this quotation †c. To disappoint (expectation). Obsolete. Cf. 5. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > disappointment > disappoint, frustrate [verb (transitive)] > frustrate, thwart discomfitc1230 blenk?a1400 mispoint1480 fruster1490 frustrate?a1513 disappoint1545 destitutea1563 foila1564 deceive1571 thwart1581 balka1593 discomfort1596 unwont1629 fail1634 1634 T. Heywood & R. Brome Late Lancashire Witches i. sig. B4 Your Vncle..Hath failed your expectation. 1651 T. Gataker in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus 403 Neither did he therein either faile their estimation, or [etc.]. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. vi. 105 Not altogether to fail the Readers expectation, I shall give a brief account. 10. a. transitive. To leave undone, omit to perform, miss (some customary or expected action). Obsolete except with infinitive as object. 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 1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 352 To mordre who that woll assente He may nought faile to repente. 1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. biiij/2 He faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr in sacrifyses & oblacions. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxliii. 362 We commaunde you..that this be nat fayled, in as hasty wyse as ye can. 1529 T. Wolsey in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) II. 2 Fayle not therfor to be here thys nygth. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. ii. 16 Let them not faile to burne the fat presently. View more context for this quotation 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 86 My Morning Walk with my Gun, which I seldom fail'd. 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 112 Burst be the ear that fails to heed. 1885 C. J. Mathew in Law Times' Rep. 53 779/1 He failed to keep his word. †b. with gerund as object. Also, to fail of. 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 1723 tr. F. C. Weber Present State Russia I. 105 Such corrupt Habits as could not fail producing an Aversion to him. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. ii. ii. 85 Thomas..whom he had hitherto seldom failed of visiting at least once a Day. View more context for this quotation c. With infinitive as object, of a thing, circumstance, situation, influence: not to have the effect of, not to result in (doing something) (usually in negative const.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > not do [verb (transitive)] > not have the effect of fail1920 1920 Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. 143 Turenne..was a protestant, a circumstance which could not fail to prejudice Louis. †11. a. intransitive. To be at fault; to miss the mark, go astray, err. Const. of, from. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > erring > [verb (intransitive)] misfareeOE failc1290 stumblec1325 errc1374 crookc1380 miscarryc1390 swervea1400 delire?a1475 pervertc1475 misguide1480 prevaricate1582 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > act wrongly or immorally [verb (intransitive)] > err or go wrong or astray misfareeOE wanderc897 dwelec900 miswendOE misfereOE misnimc1225 failc1290 to go willa1300 misgoc1300 misstepc1300 errc1315 strayc1325 folly1357 wryc1369 crookc1380 miscarryc1390 ravec1390 astray1393 forloinc1400 delire?a1475 to go wrong?1507 to tread the shoe awrya1542 swerve1576 prevaricate1582 tread awrya1625 the world > movement > impact > striking > strike or deliver blows [verb (intransitive)] > fail to strike misyengec1275 miss1535 fail1590 to lose aim1611 to fall shorta1688 err1801 c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 95/103 Þou faillest of þin art. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xi. 1 Vnnethes ere any funden þat failes noght fra halynes. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxiii. 31 And spiritus prudencie in menye poynt shal fayle Of þat he weneþ wolde falle. c1440 York Myst. xxiii. 210 In ȝoure faith fayland. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 80 The ordur of our law also in the punnyschment of theft..faylyth much from gud cyvylyte. 1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 17 b If..Mosquettiers in taking their sights, doo faile but the lengthe of a wheate corne in the height of their point. †b. transitive. To miss (a mark, one's footing, etc.). Also, to fail of. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > miss (one's footing) fail1470 miss1568 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ix. xxxv The hors fayled footynge, and felle in the Ryuer. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 123 He lansyt furth delyuerly Swa yat ye toyer failȝeit fete. a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1220 He faylyd of hym, hys hors he hytt. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. clxiii. 201 He fayled nat the Englysshe Knyght, for he strake hym. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 338 He had thought to haue lept agayne to his horse, but he fayled of the Styrop. †c. transitive. To come short of; to miss, not to obtain. Also absol. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > not obtaining or acquiring > not to obtain [verb (transitive)] mistec1275 missa1325 tinea1325 fail1377 losea1387 to come short of1570 to fall by1614 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 25 Þe freke þat folwed my wille failled neuere blisse. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iii. 159 Gyue gold al a-boute..to notaries þat non of hem faille. 12. a. intransitive. To be unsuccessful in an attempt or enterprise. Const. to with infinitive; also in. Said of persons; occasionally of the means. 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 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1463 Now we fande our force, now we fail. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Hypsipyle. 1646 He shal nat fayle The fles to wynne. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. clxiii. 201 And thenglyshe knight thought to haue striken hym with his speare in the targe, but he fayled. 1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 116 Albeit he faillie in probation of the remanent exceptions. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 139 Our envious Foe hath fail'd . View more context for this quotation 1729 W. Law Serious Call viii. 112 Poor tradesmen that had fail'd in their business. 1775 E. Burke Speech Resol. for Concil. Colonies 14 Conciliation failing,..no further hope of reconciliation is left. 1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) II. 254 They scarcely ever fail to bring out fish. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Gardener's Daughter in Poems (new ed.) II. 20 You scarce can fail to match his masterpiece. 1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 60 Some occupations..can be taken up by men who fail in other work. b. Of an action, design, etc.: To miscarry, not to succeed. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of an action or plan failc1394 misfare1489 fro1559 to shoot nipshot1568 miscarry1589 languefya1734 misfire1942 c1394 P. Pl. Crede 98 My purpos is i-failed. c1450 Why I can't be a nun 151 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 142 My techyng may not fayle. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) Epil. 12 My proiect failes . View more context for this quotation 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §7. 148 A revolt which failed..through the desertion of their head. 1884 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 25 355 His action..would fail, and he would have to pay the costs. c. Of crops, seeds, etc.: To be abortive or unproductive. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > wither [verb (intransitive)] > fail fail1297 miscarry1598 the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > harvest [verb (intransitive)] > bad harvest or crop failure fail1297 to run out1772 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 414 Frute faylede all þulke ȝer, & heruest late also. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 34 So semly a sede moȝt fayly not. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Esdras Their seedes shall faile, through the blasting, and haile. View more context for this quotation 1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 49 Chuse not those [Grafts] that are very small,..they commonly fayle. 1712 J. Mortimer Art of Husbandry: Pt. II ii. ii. 9 He thinks that very few [Grains] failed. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess i. 18 The year in which our olives fail'd. d. to fail of: to come short of obtaining or meeting with (an object desired), or of accomplishing or attaining (a purpose, etc.). Now rare except with gerund or vbl. n. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail in [verb (transitive)] > fail to reach or attain to fail of?c1225 to fall short of1590 to fly short of1646 trail1957 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 296 As þach amon þe hefde longe iswunken & faillede..an ende of his hure. c1315 Shoreham i. 56 Yf þou nelt nauȝt climme þos, Of heuene þou hest yfayled. 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) xii. iii. 412 Yf she faylyth..of the pray that she resyth to. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ii. x He fayled of his stroke, and smote the hors neck. 1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. viii. iii. 146 Some fayled of y^e purposed ende. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. x. 39 Fayling of his first attempt to be but like the highest in heaven. View more context for this quotation 1713 R. Steele in Guardian 31 Mar. 2/1 His Man never failed of bringing in his Prey. 1737 S. Johnson Let. 12 July (1992) I. 13 Could not fail of a favourable Reception. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 165 She never can fail of bewitching the reader. 1844 H. Rogers Ess. I. ii. 83 To fail of part of the admiration due to other endowments. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 249 Mere perception does not reach being, and therefore fails of truth. 13. To become insolvent or bankrupt. Said of individuals and of mercantile houses, banks, etc. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > financial loss > suffer financial loss [verb (intransitive)] > fail financially fail1682 smash1839 1682 J. Scarlett Stile of Exchanges 127 If that Endorser fail and be insolvent. 1744 R. North & M. North Life Sir D. North & Rev. J. North 240 Mills, with his Auctioneering, Atlasses, and Projects, failed. 1796 Hull Advertiser 25 June 2/3 Twelve capital houses have failed in different parts of Italy. 1868 J. Bentley Wealth & Politics ii. 81 Thirty-one banks failed in little more than three months. 14. a. intransitive. To be unsuccessful in an examination, to be ‘plucked’. b. transitive (colloquial). Of an examiner: To report (a candidate) as having failed; to ‘pluck’. ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > examine a candidate [verb (transitive)] > fail a candidate to turn by1653 pluck1713 flunk1843 plough1854 spin1860 fail1884 pill1908 pip1908 zap1961 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 6 Mar. 11 He ‘fails’ them all, turns to mistress, ‘Your children are perfect idiots’. c. transitive. To be unsuccessful in (an examination). ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > examine a candidate [verb (transitive)] > fail an examination skew1859 fail1906 pip1908 fluff1955 1906 Westm. Gaz. 22 Apr. 3/1 Such [sc. Indian] men applying for positions write, ‘I am a failed B.A.’. 1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay (U.K. ed.) iii. ii. 244 He failed some dreadful examination and had to go into the militia. 1925 E. Wallace Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder v. 168 He..had a sketchy knowledge of the law (on his visiting cards was the inscription ‘Failed LL.B.’). 1971 Daily Tel. 7 Oct. 2/2 The RIBA said that students in the five schools were failing examinations because of low teaching standards. IV. To deceive. †15. transitive. nonce-use. To deceive, cheat (Latin fallĕre). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deceive [verb (transitive)] aschrenchc885 blendc888 swikec950 belirtOE beswike971 blencha1000 blenka1000 belieOE becatchc1175 trokec1175 beguile?c1225 biwrench?c1225 guile?c1225 trechec1230 unordainc1300 blink1303 deceivec1320 feintc1330 trechetc1330 misusea1382 blind1382 forgo1382 beglose1393 troil1393 turnc1405 lirt?a1425 abuse?a1439 ludify1447 amuse1480 wilec1480 trump1487 delude?a1505 sile1508 betrumpa1522 blear1530 aveugle1543 mislippen1552 pot1560 disglose1565 oversile1568 blaze1570 blirre1570 bleck1573 overtake1581 fail1590 bafflea1592 blanch1592 geck?a1600 hallucinate1604 hoodwink1610 intrigue1612 guggle1617 nigglea1625 nose-wipe1628 cog1629 cheat1637 flam1637 nurse1639 jilt1660 top1663 chaldese1664 bilk1672 bejuggle1680 nuzzlec1680 snub1694 bite1709 nebus1712 fugle1719 to take in1740 have?1780 quirk1791 rum1812 rattlesnake1818 chicane1835 to suck in1842 mogue1854 blinker1865 to have on1867 mag1869 sleight1876 bumfuzzle1878 swop1890 wool1890 spruce1917 jive1928 shit1934 smokescreen1950 dick1964 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xi. sig. Nn8 So liuely and so like, that liuing sence it fayld. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹a1522n.²1297v.?c1225
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† failn.1

Compounds

failn.2

Draft additions 1993

failv.

† failn.¹

failn.²