Part 4201

<hw>Fault</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>faut</ets>, <ets>faute</ets>, F. <ets>faute</ets> (cf. It., Sp., & Pg. <ets>falta</ets>), fr. a verb meaning <ets>to want</ets>, <ets>fail</ets>, freq., fr. L. <ets>fallere</ets> to deceive. See <er>Fail</er>, and cf. <er>Default</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Defect; want; lack; default.</def>

<blockquote>One, it pleases me, for <b>fault</b> of a better, to call my friend. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence; a failing; a defect; a blemish.</def>

<blockquote>As patches set upon a little breach Discredit more in hiding of the <b>fault</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Geol. & Mining)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A dislocation of the strata of the vein.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; <as>as, slate <ex>fault</ex>, dirt <ex>fault</ex>, etc.</as></def>

<i>Raymond.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Hunting)</fld> <def>A lost scent; act of losing the scent.</def>

<blockquote>Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled, With much ado, the cold <b>fault</b> cleary out. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Tennis)</fld> <def>Failure to serve the ball into the proper court.</def>

<cs><col>At fault</col>, <cd>unable to find the scent and continue chase; hance, in trouble ot embarrassment, and unable to proceed; puzzled; thhrown off the track.</cd> -- <col>To find fault</col>, <cd>to find reason for blaming or complaining; to express dissatisfaction; to complain; -- followed by <i>with<i> before the thing complained of; but formerly by <i>at<i>. "Matter <i>to find fault at<i>."</cd></cs>

<i>Robynson (More's Utopia).</i>

<syn>Syn. -- -- Error; blemish; defect; imperfection; weakness; blunder; failing; vice.</syn> <usage> -- <er>Fault</er>, <er>Failing</er>, <er>Defect</er>, <er>Foible</er>. A <i>fault</i> is positive, something morally wrong; a <i>failing</i> is negative, some weakness or failling short in a man's character, disposition, or habits; a <i>defect</i> is also negative, and as applied to character is the absence of anyything which is necessary to its completeness or perfection; a <i>foible</i> is a less important weakness, which we overlook or smile at. A man may have many <i>failings</i>, and yet commit but few <i>faults</i>; or his <i>faults</i> and <i>failings</i> may be few, while his <i>foibles</i> are obvious to all. The <i>faults</i> of a friend are often palliated or explained away into mere <i>defects</i>, and the <i>defects</i> or <i>foibles</i> of an enemy exaggerated into <i>faults</i>. "I have <i>failings</i> in common with every human being, besides my own peculiar <i>faults</i>; but of avarice I have generally held myself guiltless." <i>Fox</i>. "Presumption and self-applause are the <i>foibles</i> of mankind." <i>Waterland</i>.</usage>

<h1>Fault</h1> <Xpage=546>

<hw>Fault</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Faulted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Faulting</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To charge with a fault; to accuse; to find fault with; to blame.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>For that I will not <b>fault</b> thee. <i>Old Song.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Geol.)</fld> <def>To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane of fracture; -- chiefly used in the p.p.; <as>as, the coal beds are badly <ex>faulted</ex></as>.</def>

<h1>Fault</h1> <Xpage=546>

<hw>Fault</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do wrong.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>If after Samuel's death the people had asked of God a king, they had not <b>faulted</b>. <i>Latimer.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Faulter</h1> <Xpage=546>

<hw>Fault"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who commits a fault.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Behold the <b>faulter</b> here in sight. <i>Fairfax.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fault-finder</h1> <Xpage=546>

<hw>Fault"-find`er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who makes a practice off discovering others' faults and censuring them; a scold.</def>

<h1>Fault-finding</h1> <Xpage=546>

<hw>Fault"-find`ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of finding fault or blaming; -- used derogatively. Also <i>Adj</i>.</def>

<h1>Faultful</h1> <Xpage=546>