1. = FAILURE 1. Obs. exc. in phrase Without fail; now used only to strengthen an injunction or a promise; formerly also with statements of fact, = unquestionably, certainly. † Also, in same sense, (It is) no fail (but), sans fail: without any doubt, for certain.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 245.
| Þer wyþoute fayle, | |
| At eccestre strong ynou · hij smyte an batayle. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 245. In luf & pes sanz faile went Edward.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Legend of Good Women, 1091, Dido.
| Comaunded hire massangerys for to go | |
| The same day with outyn any fayle. |
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, VIII. xvii. (1544), 188 b. In Europe stant Thrace, it is no fayle.
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., I. xvi. 29 a. It is no fayle but it [the knowledge of medecines] was perceyued, by what thinges were wholsome, & what unwholsome.
1555. Abp. Parker, Ps. l. 15.
| I wil (no fayle) deliuer thee, | |
| thus shalt thou prayse me iust. |
1611. Bible, Josh. iii. 10. The liuing God is among you, and that he will without faile driue out from before you the Canaanites.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. i. 27.
| What Dangers, by his Highnesse faile of Issue, | |
| May drop vpon his Kingdome, and deuoure | |
| Incertaine lookers on. |
1656. Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 176. Mr. Recorder. There is no fail of justice in that great city yet; but unless the contents of the Petition be considered, magistracy will fall to the ground.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 128. He gives the reason why it is Infinite, that so there might be never any Fail of Generations.
1713. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 26 Feb. The Whigs are forming great schemes against the meeting of parliament, which will be next Tuesday, I still think, without fail, and we hope to hear by then that the peace is ready to sign.
1847. Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xviii. The tailor has promised the clothes on Saturday without fail.
† 2. = FAILURE 3. For fail: in the event of failure; as a precaution against failure. Obs.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., ii. in Ashm. (1652), 29.
| For of all paines the most grevious paine, | |
| Is for one faile to beginn all againe. |
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. xci. 140. The Prince suffers in the fails of his Ambassador.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 98. Be sure you Plow up the Rushes, Brakes, or other annoying Weeds, and for fail let some body, with a Spade, follow the Plough, to root up such as are left after the Culter and Plow-share.
a. 1734. North, Exam., II. iv. § 84 (1740), 272. They continually watched for Colours, and for Fail, made them, to affirm this.
† 3. = FAILURE 2. Obs.
1647. Sanderson, Serm., II. 207. Neither, thirdly, let us droop, or be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, as if some strange thing had befallen us; upon the fail of any earthly helps or hopes whatsoever.
1654. Gataker, Disc. Apol., 47. Chalkie Pillars, of such a bulk as filled up no smal part of the room, and were found verie faultie, threatning a fail, if not a fall, unless speedilie prevented.
† b. Death. Obs. rare.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 145.
| How grounded hee his Title to the Crowne | |
| Vpon our faile. |
