“fail” in Latin

(a) (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) (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) (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.

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