Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
FAIL
I. verb
Etymology: Middle English failen, from Anglo-French faillir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
1. to lose strength ; weaken , to fade or die away , to stop functioning normally ,
2. to fall short , to be or become absent or inadequate , to be unsuccessful , to become bankrupt or insolvent, transitive verb
1. to disappoint the expectations or trust of , to miss performing an expected service or function for , to be deficient in ; lack , to leave undone ; neglect ,
4. to be unsuccessful in passing , to grade (as a student) as not passing, failingly adverb
II. noun
Date: 13th century
failure , a failure (as by a security dealer) to deliver or receive securities within a prescribed period after purchase or sale