DEFAULT, n.
1. A failing, or failure an omission of that which ought to be done neglect to do what duty or law requires as, this evil has happened through the governors default. A default or fault, may be a crime, a vice, or a mere defect, according to the nature of the duty omitted.
2. Defect want failure.
Cooks could make artificial birds, in default of real ones.
3. In law, a failure of appearance in court at a day assigned, particularly of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer. It may be applied to jurors, witnesses, &c. but a plaintiffs failing to appear by himself or attorney, is usually called a non-appearance.
To suffer default, is to permit an action to be called without appearing or answering applied to a defendant.
The King James Bible has stood its ground for nearly 400 years. However, during that time the English language has changed, and with it the meanings of some words it used. Here are more than 6,500 words whose definitions have changed since 1611.Wikipedia
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