Of persons, things, etc.: to fail or disappoint (a person, etc.) in trust or expectation; to withhold expected aid from (a person), forsake (a person); to prove wanting at need, or deficient on trial; failen at (in, on) nede; --(a) with obj.; (b) with for or to phrase; (c) absol.; (d) with two objs.: to withhold (something expected) from (someone).

(a) Of persons: to be wanting, delinquent, or slack in performance of duties; also, to neglect to perform a duty or to fulfil a promise or other obligation;--with in or of phrase, obj., or absol.; (b) of fighting men: not to stand up to the enemy; to give way before the enemy.

Of persons: to go wrong in practice of one's profession; make a mistake; also, of the practice or means: to go or be wrong.

Of persons: To go wrong in belief, depart from truth, be in error; also, of the belief, etc.: to be wrong or in error.

Of a rule or sign: to prove misleading; also, of a proposition: to prove unfounded.

To be unsuccessful in accomplishing a purpose, realizing a hope, obtaining a thing desired;-- (a) with of phrase; (b) with inf.; (c) absol.

Of a purpose, design, hope, etc.: to prove unsuccessful; to be unrealized; to miscarry, go wrong.

Of crops, seeds, land: to prove unproductive, fail to grow.

To be unsuccessful in hitting a mark with a blow or missile; to miss (a mark);--with of (the blow), of (the mark), obj. of the mark, or absol.

To miss or lose (one's footing).

To fall short of reaching a location.

To miss (one's way).

To miss the presence ( of a person expected); to find (something) missing;--with of (the person).

To leave out, omit (a word).

To miss getting, fail to obtain;--with of phrase, obj., or absol.

To leave (any action) undone; to omit, avoid, or escape (any action or result); fail (to act, do, or be as affirmed);--with inf. or cl.

Of persons, etc.: (a) to lack, want, be without (anything); (b) to have lack (of anything), not to have; (c) to be lacking (in anything);--also impers. with obj. of the person.

Of anything: to be lacking, missing, or absent;-- (a) simply; (b) with obj.; (c) with fro, to, with phrase.

(a) Of numbers: to be wanting for completion of a certain amount;--usually impers.; (b) of a figure: to lack something, to be incomplete.

(a) Of food, goods, etc.: to run short in supply, become scarce or used up;--simply or with personal obj.; (b) of persons, etc.: to run out of, suffer deprivation of (food, supplies, goods, etc.);--with obj. of the thing or with of phrase.

(a) Of anything considered with respect to continuing existence or function, persistence, permanence, etc.: to cease to exist or to function, come to an end, lapse, vanish, pass away; ppl. transient; (b) of a period of time: to pass by or come to an end.

(a) Of material objects: to break down, go to pieces, suffer destruction; (b) of vegetable matter: to lose freshness, wither, decay; (c) of light, the sun: to grow dim; (d) of the moon: to wane; (e) of the wind: to die down.

Of a person's strength, spirits, courage, etc.: to grow feeble or vanish; of the limbs, organs, or faculties: to lose or lack the power to function; also, to cease giving support to, or cease functioning for (the person); to fail (the person);-- (a) simply; (b) with personal obj.; (c) with for phrase.

Of persons, etc.: to suffer loss of vigor; to grow feeble or exhausted.

Of persons: to lack or lose (courage, sight, breath, etc.) [cp. sense 8.].

failen countenaunce (chere), to lose (composure).