Word Finder - lapse

definition

A temporary failure; a slip.

synonyms

• blooper
• gaffe
• thinko

definition

A decline or fall in standards.

definition

A pause in continuity.

synonyms

• hiatus
• moratorium

definition

An interval of time between events.

synonyms

• between-time
• gap

definition

A termination of a right etc., through disuse or neglect.

definition

A marked decrease in air temperature with increasing altitude because the ground is warmer than the surrounding air.

definition

A common-law rule that if the person to whom property is willed were to die before the testator, then the gift would be ineffective.

definition

A fall or apostasy.

definition

To fall away gradually; to subside.

definition

To fall into error or heresy.

definition

To slip into a bad habit that one is trying to avoid.

definition

To become void.

definition

To fall or pass from one proprietor to another, or from the original destination, by the omission, negligence, or failure of somebody, such as a patron or legatee.

In spite of the time lapse between practice sessions, she did well enough to win his praise.

He was eligible for re-election after the lapse of a fortnight.

After the lapse of six, eight or twelve days, according to the temperature, the larvae hatch out of the eggs.

There are also large numbers who have let their membership lapse.

When, however, after the lapse of three days, a final earnest appeal had been answered insultingly, he began the battle.

The town was represented from that date until 1332, and again in 1335-1336, but the privilege was then allowed to lapse and has never been revived.

During the lapse of years many of these stones were picked from their setting, and the silver ceiling of flowered patterns was pillaged by the Mahrattas; but the inlaid work was restored as far as possible by Lord Curzon.

The offer was rejected, but further negotiations assured the lapse to the crown of the duchy of Anjou, and the annexation of Provence was only postponed until the death of the count of Le Maine.

In both schools, the ancient doctrine of the contemporaneous appearance on earth of all species of animals having been abandoned under the positive evidence of geology, it is admitted that the animal kingdom, past and present, includes a vast series of successive forms, whose appearances and disappearances have taken place at intervals during an immense lapse of ages.

Danish peat-mosses again show the existence of man at a time when the Scotch fir was abundant; at a later period the firs were succeeded by oaks, which have again been almost superseded by beeches, a succession of changes which indicate a considerable lapse of time.

The term imperator was the natural and regular designation employed by his troops in addressing such a magistrate; but it was more particularly and specially employed by them to salute him after a victory; and when he had been thus saluted he could use the title of imperator in public till the day of his triumph at Rome, after which it would lapse along with his imperium.

In the span of two complete sunspot periods no evidence was found of periodic or other change with lapse of time.

After a certain lapse of time this teaching is corrupted and lost, and is not restored till a new Buddha appears.

The period that followed is notable mainly for the enlargement of the presidency through the lapse of certain native states, by the addition of Aden (1839) and Sind (1843), and the lease of the Panch Mahals from Sindhia (1853).

The most probable explanation of the cause why Newton wished to be excused from these payments is to be found in the fact that, as he was not in holy orders, his fellowship at Trinity College would lapse in the autumn of 1675.

In this respect English governments are more, cautious or reactionary than many of those on the continent of Europe, and access to official documents is denied when it is granted elsewhere; even the lapse of a century is not considered, a sufficient salve for susceptibilities which might be wounded by the whole truth.

This yearning, he held, springs - like more sensual impulses - from a sense of want of something formerly possessed, of which there remains a latent memory in the soul, strong in proportion to its philosophic capacity; hence it is that in learning any abstract truth by scientific demonstration we merely make explicit what we already implicitly know; we bring into clear consciousness hidden memories of a state in which the soul looked upon Reality and Good face to face, before the lapse that imprisoned her in an alien body and mingled her true nature with fleshly feelings and impulses.

After the lapse of the Socialist law (1890) he became chief editor of the Vorwiirts, and settled in Berlin.

But Bessemer was fortunate enough to maintain them intact without litigation, though he found it advisable to buy up the rights of one patentee, while in another case he was freed from anxiety by the patent being allowed to lapse in 1859 through non-payment of fees.

One and the same vulgar tongue, diversely modified in the lapse of time, has produced Castilian and Portuguese as two varieties, while Catalan, the third language of the Peninsula, connects itself, as has already been pointed out, with the Gallo-Roman.

In fact, the next mention of the Nights is found only after a lapse of three centuries.

The most important facts in the internal history of Brandenburg during the 16th century were the increase in the power of the estates, owing chiefly to the continuous pecuniary needs of the electors; the gradual decline in the political importance of the towns, due mainly to intestine feuds; and the lapse of the peasantry into servitude.

In the moral sense, that is - did He ever do anything blameworthy, incur guilt for a moral lapse?

But such disparagement would be an unfortunate lapse on their part.

A lapse of concentration on the problem at hand ended with an awkward backward fall that dislocated an elbow.

Have any been lost or were they merely incidental to cover the lapse of a year?

Surely, she could be excused her momentary lapse.

The EU is no longer a cozy club of politicians who can forgive their peers for the odd lapse.

Chuck Martini did well to save from James Husband after a slight lapse in the Windsor defense allowed him through.

Bell extended their lead further following a minor defensive lapse.

At that point the British Government's power to suspend the Assembly will lapse for good.

How such a security lapse could occur needs a full independent public inquiry.

This rather lengthy caveat is intended to undermine any lapse of humility in what follows.

Options are taken up, lapse, are sold again, the usual rigmarole.

If the shares have grown in value the employees are likely to acquire the shares; otherwise they will let their options lapse.

The same year powers to extend the line southwards were allowed to lapse.

That is, one introduces a time coordinate, tau, which I take to be Euclidean, and shift and lapse functions.

The principle of the periodicity of the councils was admitted; the first was to assemble after the lapse of five years, the second within the next seven years, and subsequent councils were to meet decennially.

The preservation of any record, however rude, of the lapse of time implies some knowledge of the celestial motions, by which alone time can be accurately measured, and some advancement in the arts of civilized life, which could be attained only by the accumulated experience of many generations (see Time).

In those cases where people disappear under circumstances which create a strong probability of death, the court may, for the purpose of probate or administration, presume the death before the lapse of seven years.

Roger, the man driving the car responsible for her memory lapse, has a cool seductive charm Angela finds irresistible.

The lapse in the seniority rule has meant that chairs of committees are now more accountable to both Houses.

Develop an understanding of what drives lapse â informs your customer proposition.

Feel free to shop around for better rates, but do not cancel insurance policies or let your policy lapse to save money.

Keep in mind that capturing traffic patterns is a lot like time lapse photography and initially can be challenging for the novice photographer.

I also want to apologize to my fans, ABC Television and my design team for my lapse in judgment and the embarrassment I have caused."

Rather, there is a lapse in the pattern.

The baby retains carbon dioxide and may lapse into unconsciousness unless stimulated to breathe.

Without effective treatment of the hyperglycemic episode, the child can lapse into a diabetic coma, which sometimes leads to death.

You may need to let your subscriptions lapse with some services.