2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fail  \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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  failed 
  adj  :  unable  to  meet  financial  obligations;  "a  failing  business 
  venture"  [syn:  {failing}] 

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