Verb
fail of (third-person singular simple present fails of, present participle failing of, simple past and past participle failed of)
(obsolete) To come short of accomplishing (a purpose); to fail to do.
But what if I fail of my purpose here? It is but to keep the nerves at strain, to dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall, and baffled, get up and begin again. Robert Browning
Who has not found the Heaven - below - Will fail of it above -. Emily Dickinson
Who has not found the heaven below Will fail of it above. Gods residence is next to mine His furniture is love. Emily Dickinson
In England, the profession of the law is that which seems to hold out the strongest attraction to talent, from the circumstance, that in it ability, coupled with exertion, even though unaided by patronage, cannot fail of obtaining reward. Charles Babbage
But Catherine did not know her own advantages - did not know that a good-looking girl, with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young man, unless circumstances are particularly untoward. Jane Austen
They who deserve honor, fail of it; and they who obtain it, do not deserve it. German Proverb