Category:Defect

De*fect", n. Etym: [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert, fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Deficit.]

1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity. Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. Davies.

2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment. Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every friend -- any every foe. Pope. Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.

defect De*fect", v. i.

Defn: To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.

defect De*fect", v. t.

Defn: To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).