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Default   /dɪfˈɔlt/   Listen
noun
Default  n.  
1.
A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default.
2.
Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom. "And pardon craved for his so rash default." "Regardless of our merit or default."
3.
(Law) 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 make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc.
In default of, in case of failure or lack of. "Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real ones."
To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.



verb
Default  v. t.  
1.
To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend. "What they have defaulted towards him as no king."
2.
(Law) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.
3.
To leave out of account; to omit. (Obs.) "Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses."



Default  v. i.  (past & past part. defaulted; pres. part. defaulting)  
1.
To fail in duty; to offend. "That he gainst courtesy so foully did default."
2.
To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.
3.
To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Default" Quotes from Famous Books



... In default of exciting intrigues and tragic adventures, I would fain have known how to infuse into it a little of the sweet perfumes of the gardens which surround me, something of the gentle warmth of the sunshine, of the shade of these ...
— Madame Chrysantheme • Pierre Loti

... con, shrinking from such a step one hour, considering it soberly the next, the days dragged past in wearisome sequence. The great depth of snow endured, was added to by spasmodic flurries. The frosts held. The camp seethed with the restlessness of the men. In default of the daily work that consumed their superfluous energy, the loggers argued and fought, drank and gambled, made "rough house" in their sleeping quarters till sometimes Stella's cheeks blanched and she expected ...
— Big Timber - A Story of the Northwest • Bertrand W. Sinclair

... so great diversity In English, and in writing of our tongue, So pray I God, that none miswrite thee, Nor thee mismetre for default of tongue! And read whereso thou be, or elles sung, That thou be understanden, God I 'seech!* *beseech But yet to purpose of my *rather speech.* ...
— The Canterbury Tales and Other Poems • Geoffrey Chaucer

... further booty. It was an Englishman that showed the sea rovers this new plan of pillage; one Louis Scott, who descended upon the town of Campeche, and, after stripping the place to the bare walls, demanded that a heavy tribute be paid him, in default of which he would burn the town. Loaded with booty, he sailed back to the buccaneers' haunts in the Tortugas. This expedition was the example that the buccaneers followed for the next few years. City after city fell a prey to ...
— The Naval History of the United States - Volume 1 (of 2) • Willis J. Abbot

... Ambition, envy, were co-heirs. In parcelling their sire's estate, They quarrel, quibble, litigate, Each aiming to supplant the other. The judge, by turns, condemns each brother. Their creditors make new assault, Some pleading error, some default. The sunder'd brothers disagree; For counsel one, have counsels three. All lose their wealth; and now their sorrows Bring fresh to ...
— The Fables of La Fontaine - A New Edition, With Notes • Jean de La Fontaine


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