King James Bible Dictionary

FAULT, noun [See Fail.]

1. Properly, an erring or missing; a failing; hence, an error or mistake; a blunder; a defect; a blemish; whatever impairs excellence; applied to things.

2. In morals or deportment, any error or defect; an imperfection; any deviation from propriety; a slight offense; a neglect of duty or propriety, resulting from inattention or want of prudence, rather than from design to injure or offend, but liable to censure or objection.

I do remember my faults this day. Genesis 41:9.

If a man be overtaken in a fault ye who are spiritual, restore such as one in the spirit of meekness. Galatians 6:1.

FAULT implies wrong, and often some degree of criminality.

3. Defect; want; absence. [Not now used. See Default.]

I could tell to thee, as to one if pleases me, for fault of a better to call my friend.

4. Puzzle; difficulty.

Among sportsmen, when dogs lose the scent, they are said to be at fault Hence the phrase, the inquirer is at fault

5. In mining, a fissure in strata, causing a dislocation of the same, and thus interrupting the course of veins.

To find fault to express blame; to complain.

Thou wilt say then, why doth he yet find fault? Romans 9:19.

To find fault with, to blame; to censure; as, to find fault with the times, or with a neighbor's conduct.

FAULT, verb intransitive To fail; to be wrong. [Not used.]

FAULT, verb transitive To charge with a fault; to accuse.

For that I will not fault thee.

FAULT'ED, participle passive Charged with a fault; accused.

FAULT'ER, noun An offender; one who commits a fault.

FAULT'-FINDER, noun One who censures or objects.

See Murmuring; Uncharitableness
Murmuring; Uncharitableness

FAULT'FUL, adjective Full of faults or sins.

FAULT'ILY, adverb [from faulty.] Defectively; erroneously; imperfectly; improperly; wrongly.

FAULT'INESS, noun [from faulty.]

1. The state of being faulty, defective or erroneous; defect.

2. Badness; viciousness; evil disposition; as the faultiness of a person.

3. Delinquency; actual offenses.

FAULT'ING, participle present tense Accusing.

FAULT'LESS, adjective

1. Without fault; not defective or imperfect; free from blemish; free from incorrectness; perfect; as a faultless poem or picture.

2. Free from vice or imperfection; as a faultless man.

FAULT'LESSNESS, noun Freedom from faults or defects.

FAULT'Y, adjective

1. Containing faults, blemishes or defects; defective; imperfect; as a faulty composition or book; a faulty plan or design; a faulty picture.

2. Guilty of a fault or of faults; hence, blamable; worthy of censure.

The king doth speak this thing as one who is faulty

1 Samuel 14:1.

3. Wrong; erroneous; as a faulty polity.

4. Defective; imperfect; bad; as a faulty helmet.