lapse (læps
)
Definitions
noun
- a drop in standard of an isolated or temporary nature ⇒
a lapse of justice
- a break in occurrence, usage, etc ⇒
a lapse of five weeks between letters
- a gradual decline or a drop to a lower degree, condition, or state ⇒
a lapse from high office
- a moral fall
- law the termination of some right, interest, or privilege, as by neglecting to exercise it or through failure of some contingency
- insurance the termination of coverage following a failure to pay the premiums
verb (intr)
- to drop in standard or fail to maintain a norm
- to decline gradually or fall in status, condition, etc
- to be discontinued, esp through negligence or other failure
- (usually foll by into) to drift or slide (into a condition) ⇒
to lapse into sleep
- (often foll by from) to turn away (from beliefs or norms)
- law (of a devise or bequest) to become void, as on the beneficiary's predeceasing the testator
- (of time) to slip away
Alternative Forms
ˈlapsable ˈlapsible adjective lapsed adjective ˈlapser noun Word Origin
C15: from Latin lāpsus error, from lābī to glide
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
mistake,
failing,
fault,
failure,
error,
slip,
negligence,
omission,
oversight,
indiscretion,
