lapse vb. (not pre-S.; 2 there was a 17th cent. sense ‘to let slip’ of which this may be an early instance with inverted construction)
1.
to fall
into sin (by lying) Cor. V. ii.
19, Cym. III. vi. 12.
2.
(?)
Ham. III. iv. 107
“l-'d in time and
passion,”
‘having suffered time to go by and
passion to cool’ (J.). ∥ In Tw.N. III. iii. 36 (?)
to pounce upon as an offender, apprehend; prob.
associated with ‘laps’ in the phr.
‘fall into the laps of’ =come within
the power of.
