Background for lapse

lapse

/læps/

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noun

A temporary failure; a slip.

Examples :

"The student's concentration had a lapse during the test, causing her to miss a few easy questions. "

action tendency

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noun

A decline or fall in standards.

Examples :

"The recent lapse in attendance at the weekly family dinners has been concerning. "

quality condition attitude action

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noun

A pause in continuity.

Examples :

"The lapse in electricity caused a disruption in the evening meeting. "

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noun

An interval of time between events.

Examples :

"There was a long lapse between finishing high school and starting college. "

time event period gap

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noun

A termination of a right etc., through disuse or neglect.

Examples :

"Her membership in the book club lapsed because she stopped attending meetings. "

right law business finance

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noun

A marked decrease in air temperature with increasing altitude because the ground is warmer than the surrounding air.

Examples :

"The hikers experienced a significant lapse in temperature as they climbed the mountain. "

weather science environment

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noun

A common-law rule that if the person to whom property is willed were to die before the testator, then the gift would be ineffective.

Examples :

"The will stated a lapse in the inheritance because the beneficiary passed away before the testator. "

property law family

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noun

A fall or apostasy.

Examples :

"His recent lapse in attendance at school meetings signaled a growing disinterest in the extracurricular activities. "

religion moral theology guilt

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verb

To fall away gradually; to subside.

Examples :

"The student's attention began to lapse during the long lecture. "

tendency time condition

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verb

To fall into error or heresy.

Examples :

"After years of strict adherence to the religious doctrine, she began to question its teachings and eventually lapsed into heresy. "

religion theology moral

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verb

To slip into a bad habit that one is trying to avoid.

Examples :

"After a week of strict dieting, he lapsed into eating sugary snacks again. "

tendency mind action human

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verb

To become void.

Examples :

"The library card will lapse if you don't renew it by the end of the month. "

law time business

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verb

To fall or pass from one proprietor to another, or from the original destination, by the omission, negligence, or failure of somebody, such as a patron or legatee.

Examples :

"The inheritance of the family farm lapsed to the younger son because the older son failed to meet the required financial conditions. "

property law business finance