8 results for: failing
fail·ing
Audio Help [fey-ling] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [fey-ling] Pronunciation Key –noun
–preposition
| 1. | an act or instance of failing; failure: His failing is due to general incompetence. |
| 2. | a defect or fault; shortcoming; weakness: His lack of knowledge is a grave failing. |
| 3. | in the absence or default of: Failing payment, we shall sue. |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
failing
To learn more about failing visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| fail
Audio Help (fāl) Pronunciation Key
v. failed, fail·ing, fails v. intr.
v. tr.
n.
[Middle English failen, from Old French faillir, from Vulgar Latin *fallīre, variant of Latin fallere, to deceive.] |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
| fail·ing
Audio Help (fā'lĭng) Pronunciation Key
n.
adj. Undergoing failure: failing health; failing kidneys; a failing business. prep. In the absence of; without: Failing new evidence, the case will surely be lost. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
| failing | |
adjective | |
| 1. | below acceptable in performance; "received failing grades" |
noun | |
| 1. | a flaw or weak point; "he was quick to point out his wife's failings" |
| 2. | failure to reach a minimum required performance; "his failing the course led to his disqualification"; "he got two flunks on his report" [ant: at length] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
ˈfailing noun
a fault or weakness
Example: He may have his failings, but he has always treated his children well.
ˈfailing prepositionExample: He may have his failings, but he has always treated his children well.
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if (something) fails or is lacking
Example: Failing his help, we shall have to try something else.
See also: failure, fail, without failExample: Failing his help, we shall have to try something else.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Failing
Fail\v. i. [imp. & p. p. Failed; p. pr. & vb. n. Failing.] [F. failir, fr. L. fallere, falsum, to deceive, akin to E. fall. See Fail, and cf. Fallacy, False, Fault.]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. 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. 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. 4. To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails. 5. To perish; to die; -- used of a person. [Obs.] Had the king in his last sickness failed. --Shak. 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. 7. To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired; to be baffled or frusrated. Our envious foe hath failed. --Milton. 8. To err in judgment; to be mistaken. Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not. --Milton. 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.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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