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What is "in default of"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
In default of

Default \De*fault"\, n. [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F. d['e]faut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb meaning, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.]

  1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default.

  2. Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom.

    And pardon craved for his so rash default.
    --Spenser.

    Regardless of our merit or default.
    --Pope.

  3. (Law) A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc.

    In default of, in case of failure or lack of.

    Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real ones.
    --Arbuthnot.

    To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.

Usage examples of "in default of".

Starting from the sacred night, for every single night that she is in default of the Year King's blood, she will age an entire year.

The Gutttin Consortium currently stands in default of their payments.

Spawned in default of the surface navy, the U-boats ultimately fulfilled the condition on the high seas that Wilson had fearfully glimpsed during the first days of the war in August.

Seldon, remembering the grave tones of Sunmaster and the nervous baritone of Graycloud, suspected that women, in default of obvious sexual identification, were forced to cultivate distinctive voices and social mannerisms.

Evidently Hazleton had known that Amalfi could not leave the platform, and instead had plastered him with the paste in default of trying to get a suit on him.

Nevertheless, I had still one hope, and that was, when once we were at the bottom of the crater, that it would be impossible in default of a gallery or tunnel, to descend any deeper.