Emily Dickinson Lexicon

fail (-ed, -est, -ing, -s), v. [OFr 'to be wanting, miss.'] (webplay: bad, care, decay, die, dry, entirely, expectations, eyes, faithful, fall, fulfill, God, insufficient, land, lest, man, miss, old, season, sight, sink, walk, wanting, weaker).

1. Malfunction; prove unsuccessful; unable to accomplish or perform.
2. Die; pass away; deteriorate.
3. End; cease; discontinue; become no longer present.
4. Sin; transgress.
5. Unfulfilled; fall short of expectation.
6. Unable to reach; unattainable.
7. Disappear; vanish; leave existence.
8. Refrain; refuse; reject; decline.