fail
UK[feɪl]US[feɪl]
v
To not succeed in achieving a desired goal or result.
v
To not do something that you should do or are expected to do.
v
To become weak or stop working properly.
n
A grade or result that is not good enough to pass a test or course.
Etymology
The verb 'fail' entered English in the late 13th century from the Old French 'faillir', meaning "to be lacking, miss, not succeed." The Old French term itself evolved from the Vulgar Latin 'fallire', a variant of the Latin 'fallere', which carried the core meanings "to trip, cause to fall; to deceive, disappoint." This Latin root is thought to descend from the Proto-Indo-European 'bʰāl-', "to lie, deceive." The semantic journey is one of falling short, from the physical act of stumbling to the abstract concepts of deficiency and lack of success. Thus, the modern sense of not meeting a standard or expectation is a direct inheritance of this ancient idea of deception or missing the mark.
Analysis
The word 'fail' is a simplex word derived from the Old French verb 'faillir'. It is not productively composed of smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
Despite his efforts, he did not want to fail the exam.
The brakes failed, causing the car to roll down the hill.
She promised to help and she will not fail us.