fals-, fall-
(Latin: deception, untrue, incorrect; deceiving; contrary to truth and fact; lie)
1. An option that will automatically be selected by a computer if the user does not choose one: Some Canadian computers have a spelling default for North American spelling.
3. Not showing up at a required court appearance: The plaintiff was found in default of the court by not coming to the trial on time.
4. In sports, non participation in competition or not appearing to complete a competition: The home team won the championship by default because the opposing team didn't show up for the last game.
5. Etymology: from early 13th century, "offense, crime, sin"; then in the late 13th century, "failure, failure to act"; from Old French defaute (12th century), "fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack, privation"; from Vulgar Latin defallita, "a deficiency or failure"; past participle of defallere, from Latin de-, "away" + fallere, "to deceive, to cheat; to put wrong, to lead astray, to cause to be mistaken; to escape notice of, be concealed from".
Defaults are important for making computer systems behave in a predictable way without the user having to give lots of "obvious" details.
2. A lack of success in performing a task or in fulfilling an obligation: The default on the mortgage payments was a great concern to the bank.3. Not showing up at a required court appearance: The plaintiff was found in default of the court by not coming to the trial on time.
4. In sports, non participation in competition or not appearing to complete a competition: The home team won the championship by default because the opposing team didn't show up for the last game.
5. Etymology: from early 13th century, "offense, crime, sin"; then in the late 13th century, "failure, failure to act"; from Old French defaute (12th century), "fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack, privation"; from Vulgar Latin defallita, "a deficiency or failure"; past participle of defallere, from Latin de-, "away" + fallere, "to deceive, to cheat; to put wrong, to lead astray, to cause to be mistaken; to escape notice of, be concealed from".
default (verb), defaults; defaulted; defaulting
1. Not paying a debt or other financial obligation: Karl has defaulted on his loan.
2. Being unavailable in court although summoned to be there: Polly was fined by the court because she defaulted by not making an appearance as ordered by the judge.
3. Unable to appear for a game of sports or a contest when there was an agreement to do it: The flat tire on the bus caused the team to default on the game to which they were going.
4. With a computer, to use a device, a command, or a file when no other one is specified: Alisa's computer program defaults to a standard font whenever she uses it.
2. Being unavailable in court although summoned to be there: Polly was fined by the court because she defaulted by not making an appearance as ordered by the judge.
3. Unable to appear for a game of sports or a contest when there was an agreement to do it: The flat tire on the bus caused the team to default on the game to which they were going.
4. With a computer, to use a device, a command, or a file when no other one is specified: Alisa's computer program defaults to a standard font whenever she uses it.
1. Debtors who do not meet their financial obligations: Charles Dickens' books are filled with stories of defaulters who went to debtor's prison.
2. Not responding to a court summons: The judge was not impressed by the defaulter because this was the second time the plaintiff had chosen to default on a court appearance.
3. A person or team that doesn't appear for a scheduled game or contest: The home team was severely criticized because they were the defaulters at the critical game.
2. Not responding to a court summons: The judge was not impressed by the defaulter because this was the second time the plaintiff had chosen to default on a court appearance.
3. A person or team that doesn't appear for a scheduled game or contest: The home team was severely criticized because they were the defaulters at the critical game.
A defect in an electric circuit, component, or line; such as, a short circuit: Susan blew a fuse because of an electrical fault in her iron when she plugged it into the socket.
Sally went outside to take care of her flowers one morning when a sudden explosion took place in her kitchen because of some kind of electrical faults in her refrigerator that resulted in a severe fire in her apartment.
fail (verb), fails; failed; failing
1. To be unsuccessful in trying to do something: Marvin found out that he had failed to pass his math exam.
2. To be incapable of doing something or unwilling to do it: At least one student in class failed to understand the last question on the examination.
3. To fall short of the standard required to pass an examination, course, or piece of academic work: Shirley failed her Spanish exam because she didn't study the necessary assignments.
4. To judge that someone is not good enough to pass an examination, course, or piece of academic work: Mr. Smith had to tell three students that they had failed the science examination.
5. To stop working or not performing or growing as expected: The brakes on the car failed when Mary tried to stop her car before going through a red light.
6. To collapse financially or becoming insolvent or bankrupt: Janet's small business failed because new trade agreements did not allow her to import popular products.
7. To abandon, to forsake, or to let someone down by not doing what is expected or needed: June's neighbor failed her sister by being too late for their appointment.
8. To lose strength, loudness, or brightness: The light started to fail just when Alisa needed it.
9. Etymology: from Old French falir, Modern French faillir, "be lacking, miss, not succeed"; from Common or Vulgar Latin fallire; from Latin fallere, "to trip, to cause to fall"; figuratively, "to deceive, to trick, to dupe, to cheat, to elude"; fail, "be lacking" or "being defective".
2. To be incapable of doing something or unwilling to do it: At least one student in class failed to understand the last question on the examination.
3. To fall short of the standard required to pass an examination, course, or piece of academic work: Shirley failed her Spanish exam because she didn't study the necessary assignments.
4. To judge that someone is not good enough to pass an examination, course, or piece of academic work: Mr. Smith had to tell three students that they had failed the science examination.
5. To stop working or not performing or growing as expected: The brakes on the car failed when Mary tried to stop her car before going through a red light.
6. To collapse financially or becoming insolvent or bankrupt: Janet's small business failed because new trade agreements did not allow her to import popular products.
7. To abandon, to forsake, or to let someone down by not doing what is expected or needed: June's neighbor failed her sister by being too late for their appointment.
8. To lose strength, loudness, or brightness: The light started to fail just when Alisa needed it.
9. Etymology: from Old French falir, Modern French faillir, "be lacking, miss, not succeed"; from Common or Vulgar Latin fallire; from Latin fallere, "to trip, to cause to fall"; figuratively, "to deceive, to trick, to dupe, to cheat, to elude"; fail, "be lacking" or "being defective".
failing (preposition)
In the absence of something, being without: Failing progress in the peace process resulted in more attacks taking place.
The members of the committee thought that presenting the advantages of getting together for the project would be a good reason for combining their skills or, failing that, they would just have to cancel the proposal.
1. Conditions resulting in a weakness: Fred's physical failings are preventing any possibility that he will be a professional baseball player.
2. Not doing something successfully; such as, not passing a course of study or not working properly: Henry has had previous failings in his biology class at school.
3. A weak point that makes someone or something less effective: Sue has had several failings as a successful writer.
2. Not doing something successfully; such as, not passing a course of study or not working properly: Henry has had previous failings in his biology class at school.
3. A weak point that makes someone or something less effective: Sue has had several failings as a successful writer.
fail-safe (adjective), more fail-safe, most fail-safe
Making certain that something will be successful: Brian was looking for fail-safe tools for his project; of course, he realized that no system is entirely fail-safe.
1. A situation or fact that does not result in a desired end: The failure of the experiment was a disappointment to the scientists.
2. A condition or circumstance that is insufficient or which falls short of a desired objective: The crop failure was a major setback for the farmers.
3. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: After the storm, the entire town experienced an electrical power failure.
4. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; an omission: Failure to report a change of address can result in problems with mail deliveries.
5. The act or fact of not passing an educational course, test, or assignment: Ralph didn't get any credit for his homework assignment because of his failure to follow his teacher's instructions.
6. A decline in strength or effectiveness: Howard was crippled by his fear of failure regarding his project.
7. The act or fact of becoming financially insolvent: Shanna went bankrupt because of her failure to find another job after her company moved to another country.
2. A condition or circumstance that is insufficient or which falls short of a desired objective: The crop failure was a major setback for the farmers.
3. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: After the storm, the entire town experienced an electrical power failure.
4. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; an omission: Failure to report a change of address can result in problems with mail deliveries.
5. The act or fact of not passing an educational course, test, or assignment: Ralph didn't get any credit for his homework assignment because of his failure to follow his teacher's instructions.
6. A decline in strength or effectiveness: Howard was crippled by his fear of failure regarding his project.
7. The act or fact of becoming financially insolvent: Shanna went bankrupt because of her failure to find another job after her company moved to another country.
A fear of any event, outcome, or situation that resembles or relates to an inadequacy of positive results: People who are suffering from a lack of success, or failure phobia, will do everything possible to avoid such shortcomings.
Failure phobias are generally caused by some influences of unproductive efforts that have resulted from prior situations which had occurred in people's lives that may have happened during childhood, marriage, special projects that were not accomplished, incapability of success in occupational endeavors, etc.
Speaking deceitfully or using misleading conversation: Marie told her husband that she was tired of listening to his fallaciloquences. She wanted him to tell her the truth.
fallaciloquent (adjective), more fallaciloquent, most fallaciloquent
A reference to making statements that are meant to dupe: The fallaciloquent statements made by the politician resulted in his losing the election.
When Ivan asked his sister why she didn't come to his birthday party, he thought that her fallaciloquent excuses were the worst that he had ever heard.
fallacious (adjective), more fallacious, most fallacious
1. Concerning fundamental errors in reasoning: Mr. Jones, the supervisor, presented fallacious reasons for firing Roy, all of which were not valid!
2. Pertaining to something that is deceiving or based on untrue information or ideas: The testimony provided by the witness during the trial obviously consisted of several fallacious statements and so the accused was declared to be innocent of the charges.
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© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
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2. Pertaining to something that is deceiving or based on untrue information or ideas: The testimony provided by the witness during the trial obviously consisted of several fallacious statements and so the accused was declared to be innocent of the charges.
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fallaciously (adverb), more fallaciously, most fallaciously
In a deceptive, or dubious manner; erroneous and illogical: Mr. Thompson, the preacher, fallaciously advocated that the end of the world would come by a specified date and later, when it didn't take place, he presented a more fallaciously alternative date.
The car was fallaciously presented as being in perfect condition, but it couldn't even be driven off the parking area.
Including or involving deception and so being false or delusive: The fallaciousness of the religious leader's predictions disturbed many members of his group.
