DEFAULT • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Default

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/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.

See images of 'Default'

Etymology of 'Default'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Default" Quotes from Famous Books

... during the debate upon this subject, when feeling was running high and when at times it seemed as if the Convention in default of any satisfactory solution would permanently adjourn, that Franklin proposed that "prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven... be held in this Assembly every morning." Tradition relates that Hamilton opposed ...

— The Fathers of the Constitution - Volume 13 in The Chronicles Of America Series • Max Farrand

... lightened of all he could afford to pay. When the offender was likely to leave the station, the modus operandi was as follows. The writ of summons was issued. The lawyer strongly recommended an apology and a promise to defray costs, with the warning that judgment would go by default against the absentee. If the defendant prudently 'stumped up,' the affair ended; if not, a capias was taken out, and the law ran its course. A jury was chosen, and I have already told ...

— To The Gold Coast for Gold, Vol. II - A Personal Narrative • Richard Francis Burton and Verney Lovett Cameron

... dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used. Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas ...

— Sylvia's Lovers, Vol. I • Elizabeth Gaskell

... change as immaterial, took on himself to restore the original form, and in that shape it was read by the unconscious Curee to the Tribunals. On this curious, passage see Miot de Melito, tome ii, p. 179. As finally settled the descent of the crown in default of Napoleon's children was limited to Joseph and Louis and their descendants, but the power of adoption was given to Napoleon. The draft of the 'Senates-consulte' was heard by the Council of State in silence, and Napoleon tried in vain to get even the most talkative of ...

— The Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte • Bourrienne, Constant, and Stewarton

... associations; their isolation is the cause of their egoism. From the top to the bottom of the scale the legal and moral powers which should represent the nation represent themselves only, while each one is busy in its own behalf at the expense of the nation. The nobility, in default of the right to meet together and to vote, exercises its influence, and, to know how it uses this, it is sufficient to read over the edicts and the Almanac. A regulation imposed on Marshal de Segur[1404]has just restored the old ...

— The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) - The Ancient Regime • Hippolyte A. Taine

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