default
    n 1: loss due to not showing up; "he lost the game by default"
    2: act of failing to meet a financial obligation [syn:
       default, nonpayment, nonremittal]
    3: loss resulting from failure of a debt to be paid [syn:
       nonpayment, default, nonremittal] [ant: payment]
    4: an option that is selected automatically unless an
       alternative is specified [syn: default option, default]
    v 1: fail to pay up [syn: default, default on] [ant: ante
         up, pay, pay up]

Default \De*fault"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defaulted; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Defaulting.]
   1. To fail in duty; to offend.
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            That he gainst courtesy so foully did default.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   2. To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.
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   3. To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.
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Default \De*fault"\, n. [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte,
   fem., F. d['e]faut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb meaning,
   to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to
   deceive. See Fault.]
   1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be
      done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this
      evil has happened through the governor's default.
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   2. Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or
      wisdom.
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            And pardon craved for his so rash default.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            Regardless of our merit or default.   --Pope.
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   3. (Law) A neglect of, or failure to take, some step
      necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to
      appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the
      defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of
      jurors, witnesses, etc.
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   In default of, in case of failure or lack of.
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            Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in
            default of the real ones.             --Arbuthnot.

   To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called
      without appearing to answer.
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Default \De*fault"\, v. t.
   1. To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to
      omit; as, to default a dividend.
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            What they have defaulted towards him as no king.
                                                  --Milton.
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   2. (Law) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is
      to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if
      he fails to appear; to enter a default against.
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   3. To leave out of account; to omit. [Obs.]
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            Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses.
                                                  --Hales.
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default

    A value or thing to use when none is specified by the
   user.  Defaults are important for making systems behave in a
   predictable way without the user having to give lots of
   "obvious" details.

   For example: the default TCP/IP port for the HTTP
   protocol is 80, the Unix ls command does not list files
   whose names begin with ".", the default number base in most
   contexts is 10 (decimal), the default filename extension for
   Microsoft Word documents is ".doc".

   (2009-02-20)

DEFAULT. The neglect to perform a legal obligation or duty; but in technical 
language by default is often understood the non-appearance of the defendant 
within the time prescribed by law, to defend himself; it also signifies the 
non-appearance of the plaintiff to prosecute his claim. 
     2. When the plaintiff makes default, he may be nonsuited; and when the 
defendant makes default, judgment by default is rendered against him. Com. 
Dig. Pleader, E 42 Id. B 11. Vide article Judgment by Default, and 7 Vin. 
Ab. 429; Doct. Pl. 208 Grah. Pr. 631. See, as to what will excuse or save a 
default, Co. Litt. 259 b. 

DEFAULT, contracts, torts. By the 4th section of the English statute of 
frauds, 29 Car. H., c. 3, it is enacted that "no action shall be brought to 
charge the defendant upon any special promise to answer for the debt, 
default, or miscarriage of another person, unless the agreement," &c., 
"shall be in writing," &c. By default under this statute is understood the 
non-performance of duty, though the same be not founded on a contract. 2 B. 
& A. 516.