fail

[[t]feɪl[/t]]

v. i.

1) to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved:

The experiment failed[/ex]

2) to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study

3) to be or become deficient or lacking; fall short

4) to lose strength or vigor; become weak

5) to stop functioning or operating

6) to dwindle, pass, or die away

7) to become unable to meet or pay debts or business obligations; become insolvent or bankrupt

8) mac (of a building member, structure, machine part, etc.) to break, bend, or be otherwise destroyed or made useless because of an excessive load

9) to be unsuccessful in the performance or completion of:

He failed to do his duty[/ex]

10) to prove of no use or help to:

His friends failed him[/ex]

11) to receive less than a passing grade or mark in

12) to declare (a person) unsuccessful in a test or course of study; give less than a passing grade to

13) ste bus a stockbroker's inability to deliver or receive security within the required time after sale or purchase

14) Obs. failure as to performance, occurrence, etc

•

- without fail

Etymology: 1175–1225; ME < AF, OF faillir < L fallere to deceive, disappoint