1. A failing or failure;
omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do whaduty or
law requires; as,
this evil has happened
through the governor's default.
2. Fault; offense;
ill deed; incorrect act;
failure in
virtue or wisdom. "And
pardon craved for
his so
rash default." (Spenser) "Regardless of our merit or default." (Pope)
3. A neglect of, or
failure to take, some step
necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a
failure to appear in court at a
day assigned, especially of the
defendant in a suit when called to create answer;
also of jurors, witnesses, etc. In
default of, in
case of
failure or
lack of. "Cooks could create
artificial birds and fishes in
default of the
real ones." (Arbuthnot) To suffer a default, to permit an
action to be called
without appearing to answer.
Origin: OE. Defaute, OF. Defaute, defalte, fem, F. Defaut, masc, LL. Defalta, fr. A verb importance, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. De- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.
Source: Websters Vocabulary