in default of
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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]
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
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Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
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
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