Alexander Schmidt, Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary

Fail, vb. 1) intr. a) to become deficient, to cease to be sufficient, to cease: it (thy dignity) “cannot f. but by the violation of my faith,” Wint. IV, 4, 487 (== cease). “my sight --s,” H4B IV, 4, 110. “sweet honey and sweet notes together f.” Troil. V, 10, 45.
b) to be wanting: “though thy speech doth f., one eye thou hast,” H6A I, 4, 82. “till Lionel's issue --s, his should not reign,” H6B II, 2, 56. “fall Greeks, f. fame,” Troil. V, 1, 48. “on whom depending, their obedience --s to the greater bench,” Cor. III, 1, 166. which (letter) “--ing, periods his comfort,” Tim. I, 1, 98. “obedience f. in children,” IV, 1, 4. “there would be something --ing,” Cymb. I, 1, 21.
c) to lose strength, to decline: “full of decay and --ing,” Tim. IV, 3, 466. Euphemistically, == to die: “had the king in his last sickness --ed,” H8 I, 2, 184.
d) to stay away, not to appear: “she will not f., for lovers break not hours,” Gentl. V, 1, 4. “wherein it is at our pleasure to f.” H4A I, 2, 191. Ado V, 1, 339. As V, 2, 132. All's IV, 2, 64. Caes. II, 1, 214.
e) not to act up to expectation: “if you fail in our request, the blame may hang upon your hardness,” Cor. V, 3, 90. “if my sight f. not,” H8 IV, 2, 108. “either my eyesight --s, or thou lookest pale,” Rom. III, 5, 57. Hence == to be mistaken, to err, to offend: “if he chance to f., he hath sentenced himself,” Meas. III, 2, 271. “one man holding troth, a million f.” Mids. III, 2, 93. “I have found myself to f. as often as I guessed,” All's III, 1, 15. “deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom --ed,” IV, 5, 88. “to f. in the disposing of those chances,” Cor. IV, 7, 40.
f) to miss, not to obtain, to miscarry; followed by of: “if I fail of the right casket,” Merch. II, 9, 11; cf. II, 2, 80 (Launcelot's speech). “if he f. of that, he will have other means,” As II, 3, 24. “--ing of her end,” Cymb. V, 5, 57. Hence == to want, to be destitute: “if I f. not of my cunning,” Shr. II, 413. “the queen of audience nor desire shall f.” Ant. III, 12, 21.
g) not to succeed, to be frustrated, to fall short; used of persons: “if you f.” Merch. II, 9, 7. Merch. II, 9, 7 H6A II, 1, 31. H6C II, 1, 190. R3 I, 1, 149. Troil. I, 3, 382. Mcb. I, 7, 59. Mcb. I, 7, 59 Oth. II, 1, 309. Ant. III, 7, 53. Of things: Tp. Epil. Ant. III, 7, 53 Merch. III, 2, 270. All's II, 1, 145. Wint. II, 2, 42. H5 II, 4, 101. III, 2, 17. H6B II, 1, 52. H8 V, 1, 124. Troil. I, 3, 5. Cor. IV, 7, 55. Rom. III, 5, 242. Cymb. II, 4, 7.
2) trans. a) not to assist, to disappoint: “he might in a main danger f. you,” All's III, 6, 17. “if truth and upright innocency f. me,” H4B V, 2, 39. “if thou f. us, all our hope is done,” H6C III, 3, 33.
b) to be wanting to: “my life will be too short, and every measure f. me,” Lr. IV, 7, 3.
c) to neglect, to omit, not to afford: “he --ed his presence at the tyrant's feast,” Mcb. III, 6, 21. “would f. her obligation,” Lr. II, 4, 144. “I will never f. beginning nor supplyment,” Cymb. III, 4, 181. Followed by an infinitive: “f. not to do your office,” Meas. IV, 2, 129. All's II, 5, 80. H8 II, 3, 74. V, 1, 149. Rom. II, 2, 170. Hml. I, 2, 22.
d) to stay away from, to leave alone: “I will not f. your ladyship,” Gentl. IV, 3, 45. Wiv. II, 2, 96. Ado I, 1, 279. Mids. I, 2, 109. Merch. I, 1, 72. II, 4, 21. “f. not our feast,” Mcb. III, 1, 28.