Fail
/feɪl/noun
To be unsuccessful or not meet expectations.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *fallere*, “to trip, deceive, or trick,” which also lies behind “fault” and “false” — failure and deception were linked in the ancient mind.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
fallere
“to trip, deceive, or trick”
Old French
Old French
faillir
“to fail, be wanting; to miscarry”
Middle English
English
failen
“to fall short, be lacking, not succeed”
Modern English
English
fail
“to be unsuccessful or not meet expectations”