in default of
Through the failure, absence, or lack of, as in In default of a better solution, we'll have to make do with this one. This term was originally put as for default of, but John Gower had the current wording in Confessio Amantis (1397): “The fish, if it be dry, might in default of water die.” [Late 1200s]
QUIZZES
THE OCTOBER WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ IS HERE TO HAUNT YOU
Search your capacious memory for the meaning of October’s words!
Question 1 of 9
Which Word of the Day from this month means, “an irrational dislike; loathing”?
Words nearby in default of
indecorum, indeed, in deep, indef., indefatigable, in default of, indefeasible, indefectible, indefensible, in defiance of, indefinable
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.