lapse
UK: læps | US: læps
n. a temporary failure or slip in concentration, judgment, or behavior
n. the termination of a right or privilege due to inaction or time expiration
vi. to fall into a previous state or condition; to expire or become void
lapse = laps<slip, fall> + e (silent)
- laps (from Latin lapsus, meaning "slip" or "fall")
- e (silent letter, no semantic function)
Etymology Origin:
The word "lapse" traces back to Latin lapsus, meaning "a slip or fall," derived from the verb labi ("to glide, slip, or fall"). This root reflects the concept of a decline or failure, whether literal (physical slipping) or metaphorical (a mistake or expiration). Over time, "lapse" evolved in English to describe both momentary errors (e.g., a lapse in memory) and the expiration of rights or time-bound agreements.
After a brief lapse in focus, she missed the crucial detail in the report.
His driver’s license expired due to a lapse in renewal.
The policy will lapse if premiums are not paid on time.
A lapse in security allowed the breach to occur.
He lapsed into old habits after months of progress.