defect

v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [ Obs. ] “Defected honor.” Warner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. to abandon one country or faction, and join another. [ PJC ]

v. t. To injure; to damage. “None can my life defect.” [ R. ] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Deficiency; imperfection. [ R. ] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [ R. ] “A defectible understanding.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect. ] Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. “Defection and falling away from God.” Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

The general defection of the whole realm. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who advocates or encourages defection. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having defects; imperfect. [ Obs. ] “Some one defectious piece.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Anything that is defective or lacking in some respect. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Med.) One who is lacking physically or mentally.

☞ Under the term defectives are included deaf-mutes, the blind, the feeble-minded, the insane, and sometimes, esp. in criminology, criminals and paupers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]