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Webster 1913 Edition

Default

De-fault′

,
Noun.
[OE.
defaute
, OF.
defaute
,
defalte
, fem., F.
défaut
, masc., LL.
defalta
, fr. a verb meaning, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L.
de-
+
fallere
to deceive. See
Fault
.]
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
.
Spenser.
Regardless of our merit or
default
.
Pope.
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.

–
To suffer a default
(Law)
,
to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.

De-fault′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Defaulted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Defaulting
.]
1.
To fail in duty; to offend.
That he gainst courtesy so foully did
default
.
Spenser.
2.
To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.
3.
To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.

De-fault′

,
Verb.
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.
Milton.
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.
Hales.

Webster 1828 Edition

Default

DEFAULT

, n.
1.
A failing, or failure; an omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governors default. A default or fault, may be a crime, a vice, or a mere defect, according to the nature of the duty omitted.
2.
Defect; want; failure.
Cooks could make artificial birds, in default of real ones.
3.
In law, a failure of appearance in court at a day assigned, particularly of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer. It may be applied to jurors, witnesses, &c.; but a plaintiffs failing to appear by himself or attorney, is usually called a non-appearance.
To suffer default, is to permit an action to be called without appearing or answering; applied to a defendant.

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