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lapsingmore about lapsing

lapsing


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lapse  \Lapse\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Lapsed};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Lapsing}.] 
  1.  To  pass  slowly  and  smoothly  downward,  backward,  or  away 
  to  slip  downward,  backward,  or  away  to  glide;  --  mostly 
  restricted  to  figurative  uses. 
 
  A  tendency  to  lapse  into  the  barbarity  of  those 
  northern  nations  from  whom  we  are  descended. 
  --Swift. 
 
  Homer,  in  his  characters  of  Vulcan  and  Thersites 
  has  lapsed  into  the  burlesque  character.  --Addison. 
 
  2.  To  slide  or  slip  in  moral  conduct;  to  fail  in  duty;  to 
  fall  from  virtue;  to  deviate  from  rectitude;  to  commit  a 
  fault  by  inadvertence  or  mistake. 
 
  To  lapse  in  fullness  Is  sorer  than  to  lie  for  need 
  --Shak. 
 
  3.  (Law) 
  a  To  fall  or  pass  from  one  proprietor  to  another,  or 
  from  the  original  destination,  by  the  omission, 
  negligence,  or  failure  of  some  one  as  a  patron,  a 
  legatee,  etc 
  b  To  become  ineffectual  or  void;  to  fall. 
 
  If  the  archbishop  shall  not  fill  it  up  within 
  six  months  ensuing,  it  lapses  to  the  king. 
  --Ayliffe. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lapsing 
  n  :  a  failure  to  maintain  a  higher  state  [syn:  {backsliding},  {lapse}, 
  {recidivism},  {relapse},  {relapsing},  {reversion},  {reverting}] 




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