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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 dividendWhat 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.
Definition 2025
default
default
English
Noun
default (plural defaults)
- (finance) The condition of failing to meet an obligation.
- He failed to make payments on time and is now in default.
- You may cure this default by paying the full amount within a week.
- (electronics, computing) the original software programming settings as set by the factory
- A loss incurred by failing to compete.
- The team's three losses include one default.
- A selection made in the absence of an alternative.
- The man became the leader of the group as a default.
- 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian:
- One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium [sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.
- (often attributive) A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.
- If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.
- (law) The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.
- (obsolete) A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires.
- This evil has happened through the governor's default.
- (obsolete) Fault; offence; wrong act.
- Spenser
- And pardon craved for his so rash default.
- Alexander Pope
- regardless of our merit or default
- Spenser
Related terms
Translations
(finance) condition of failing to meet an obligation
|
(electronics, computing) original settings
|
value used when none has been given.
|
(law) failure of defendant to appear
|
|
Verb
default (third-person singular simple present defaults, present participle defaulting, simple past and past participle defaulted)
- (intransitive) To fail to meet an obligation.
- If you do not make your payments, you will default on your loan.
- (intransitive) To lose a competition by failing to compete.
- If you refuse to wear a proper uniform, you will not be allowed to compete and will default this match.
- (intransitive, computing) To assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard.
- If you don't specify a number of items, it defaults to 1.
- (intransitive, law) To fail to appear and answer a summons and complaint.