01 v. i. To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in the usual…
imp. & p. p.
Failed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Failing
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1.
To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in the usual or expected manner, or to be altogether cut off from supply; to be lacking; as, streams fail; crops fail.“As the waters fail from the sea.” — Job xiv. 11.“Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign.” — Shak.
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2.
To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; -- used with of.“If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to their size.” — Berke.
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3.
To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.“When earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail.” — Milton.
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4.
To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
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5.
To perish; to die; -- used of a person.[Obs.]“Had the king in his last sickness failed.” — Shak.
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6.
To be found wanting with respect to an action or a duty to be performed, a result to be secured, etc.; to miss; not to fulfill expectation.“Take heed now that ye fail not to do this.” — Ezra iv. 22.“Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.” — Shak.
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7.
To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated.“Our envious foe hath failed.” — Milton.
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8.
To err in judgment; to be mistaken.“Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not.” — Milton.
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9.
To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent; as, many credit unions failed in the late 1980's.