In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
FAILURE
failure
(noun) an unexpected omission; “he resented my failure to return his call”; “the mechanic’s failure to check the brakes”
failure
(noun) an act that fails; “his failure to pass the test”
failure
(noun) an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose; “the surprise party was a complete failure”
failure, loser, nonstarter, unsuccessful person
(noun) a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently
failure
(noun) loss of ability to function normally; “kidney failure”
failure
(noun) lack of success; “he felt that his entire life had been a failure”; “that year there was a crop failure”
bankruptcy, failure
(noun) inability to discharge all your debts as they come due; “the company had to declare bankruptcy”; “fraudulent loans led to the failure of many banks”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
failure (countable and uncountable, plural failures)
State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
An object, person or endeavour in a state of failure or incapable of success.
Termination of the ability of an item to perform its required function; breakdown.
Bankruptcy.
Synonyms
• (person incapable of success): loser
Antonyms
• (state or condition): success, triumph
Source: Wiktionary
Fail"ure, n. Etym: [From Fail.]
1. Cessation of supply, or total defect; a failing; deficiency; as, failure of rain; failure of crops.
2. Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a promise.
3. Want of success; the state of having failed.
4. Decau, or defect from decay; deterioration; as, the failure of memory or of sight.
5. A becoming insolvent; bankruptcy; suspension of payment; as, failure in business.
6. A failing; a slight fault. [Obs.] Johnson.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
17 April 2025
SPONGE
(noun) a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used
Coffee Trivia
