Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FAULT, n. [Fr. faute for faulte; Sp. falta; Port. id.; It. fallo; from fail. See Fail.]

1. Properly, an erring or missing; a failing; hence, an error or mistake; a blunder; a defect; a blemish; whatever impairs excellence: applied to things.
2. In morals or deportment, any error or defect; an imperfection; any deviation from propriety; a slight offense; a neglect of duty or propriety, resulting from inattention or want of prudence, rather than from design to injure or offend, but liable to censure or objection. I do remember my faults this day. Gen. xii. If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye, who are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. Gat. vi. Fault implies wrong, and often some degree of criminality.
3. Defect; want; absence. [Not now used. See Default.] I could tell to thee, as to one it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend. Shak.
4. Puzzle; difficulty. Among sportsmen, when dogs lose the scent, they are said to be at fault. Hence the phrase, the inquirer is at fault.
5. In mining, a fissure in strata, causing a dislocation of the same, and thus interrupting the course of veins. Cyc. To find fault, to express blame; to complain. Thou wilt say then, why doth he yet find fault? Rom. ix. To find fault with, to blame; to censure; as, to find fault with the times, or with a neighbor's conduct.