• FAIL

1.

• (a) With reference to insufficient supply, diminished intensity, etc., deesse (to be wanting said of something, the absence of which renders the thing incomplete; alicui or alicui rei, and absolutely; it is also used in the sense of failing anybody = not assisting him, not performing him an expected service; deesse alicui, reipublicae, amicis, occasioni temporis, etc.): deficere (to begin to fail; deficere, of a commencing, deesse, of a completed state; deficere alicui or aliquem, or, very commonly, absolutely; fides, tempus, voces, vires deficiunt aliquem [vires deficiunt alicui, Caes.]; materia, frumentum, etc., deficere; (1) also in the sense of anybody’s courage fails, aliquis animo deficit or deficit only: ☞ and (2) of a bankrupt, defici facultatibus, defectum esse facultatibus, Ulp., ☞ Defici aliqua re is also used; e.g. mulier abundat oratione, consilio et ratione deficitur, Cic.): aliquid mihi non suppetit (no adequate supply of it is present): deminui (to be diminished; of strength, etc. ☞ Not diminui): minui: minuere (to lessen; on the intransitive use of minuere, Vid: Herz. ad Caes.., B.G., 3, 12): cessare (not to manifest itself, etc.; very seldom not prae-Augustin; e.g., cessat voluntas, Hor.): hebescere (to grow dull; of one’s sight, spirit, etc.): senescere (to grow old and so weaker, of persons or things): inclinari (to turn, and so depart from the highest point; also, timore inclinatur aliquis, anybody’s courage fails): infirmari (to be weakened; e.g., fides testis infirmatur, a witness fails in his cross-examination): siccari (to be dried up; e.g. fontes; fluvii, both Ov.): arescere siccitate (also of fountains, but IMPROP.; Auct., ad Herenn., 4, 6, fin.). My strength fails, viribus deficior or senesco; vires extenuantur, deficiunt: memory fails, memoria labat, minuitur; deficior memoria: anybody’s hope fails, extenuatur alicujus spes et evanescit (Cic.): my hope of anything fails, alicujus rei spes mihi discedit. His left eye failed him when he grew old, aliquis in senecta sinistro oculo minus vidit (Suet., Oct., 79).
• (β) With reference to non-fulfilment of anything, non-performance of what was expected or hoped, etc. To fail, ad or in irritum cadere (to come to nothing); ad irritum redigi (both of hopes, etc.): propositum non assequi; fine excidere (to fail of one’s object): errare: labi (in aliqua re: to commit a fault): to fail disgracefully, turpissime labi in aliqua re. He would not pursue an object when there was a possibility of his failing, spem infinitam persequi noluit. To fail a friend, amico deesse; amicum destituere, etc. [Vid: ABANDON.] To fail in the performance of a duty, officio deesse or non satisfacere: not to fail in the performance of any duty, nullam partem officii deserere; toward anybody, nullum munus officii alicui reliquum facere. I have never failed you in the performance of kind offices, tibi nullum a me pietatis officium defuit: not to fail in attention, diligence, etc., nihil de diligentia sua remittere. I will not fail you, non deero (will not withdraw my assistance); in me non erit mora (no delay, hinderance, etc., shall be caused by me).
• (γ) To become bankrupt [Vid. BANKRUPT, and Remark on deficere above]. (δ)
• Followed by infinitive. Not to fail to do anything, non remittere aliquid facere (of never neglecting a precaution one has once adopted, etc., neque remittit, quid ubique hostis ageret, explorare, Sall.): recipio tibi (vobis, etc.) me aliquid facturum esse (I undertake to do it). Anything cannot fail to, etc. [Vid: “anything MUST.”] Anybody fails to perform his promises, non exsolvit aliquis, quod promiserat; aliquis promissum non praestat; fidem non persolvit; fidem suam non liberat.

2. s. frustratio (want of success; Quint., 2, 3). Without fail, sine frustratione (without ever being unsuccessful; Quint., ib.); but mostly by adverbs meaning CERTAINLY, Vid.