n. [ L. lapsus, fr. labi, p. p. lapsus, to slide, to fall: cf. F. laps. See Sleep. ] 1. A gliding, slipping, or gradual falling; an unobserved or imperceptible progress or passing away, ; -- restricted usually to immaterial things, or to figurative uses. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lapse to indolence is soft and imperceptible. Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bacon was content to wait the lapse of long centuries for his expected revenue of fame. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A slip; an error; a fault; a failing in duty; a slight deviation from truth or rectitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

To guard against those lapses and failings to which our infirmities daily expose us. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The termination of a right or privilege through neglect to exercise it within the limited time, or through failure of some contingency; hence, the devolution of a right or privilege. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Theol.) A fall or apostasy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lapsed p. pr. & vb. n. Lapsing. ] 1. To pass slowly and smoothly downward, backward, or away; to slip downward, backward, or away; to glide; -- mostly restricted to figurative uses. [ 1913 Webster ]

A tendency to lapse into the barbarity of those northern nations from whom we are descended. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

Homer, in his characters of Vulcan and Thersites, has lapsed into the burlesque character. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To slide or slip in moral conduct; to fail in duty; to fall from virtue; to deviate from rectitude; to commit a fault by inadvertence or mistake. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lapse in fullness
Is sorer than to lie for need. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) (a) To fall or pass from one proprietor to another, or from the original destination, by the omission, negligence, or failure of some one, as a patron, a legatee, etc. (b) To become ineffectual or void; to fall. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the archbishop shall not fill it up within six months ensuing, it lapses to the king. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To let slip; to permit to devolve on another; to allow to pass. [ 1913 Webster ]

An appeal may be deserted by the appellant's lapsing the term of law. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To surprise in a fault or error; hence, to surprise or catch, as an offender. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For which, if be lapsed in this place,
I shall pay dear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having slipped downward, backward, or away; having lost position, privilege, etc., by neglect; -- restricted to figurative uses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Once more I will renew
His lapsed powers, though forfeit. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ineffectual, void, or forfeited; as, a lapsed policy of insurance; a lapsed legacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lapsed devise,
Lapsed legacy (Law), a devise, or legacy, which fails to take effect in consequence of the death of the devisee, or legatee, before that of the testator, or for other cause. Wharton (Law Dict.). [ 1913 Webster ]