Webster's 1828 Dictionary
LAPSED
pp. Fallen; passed from one proprietor to another by the negligence of the patron; as a lapsed benefice. A lapsed legacy is one which falls to the heirs through the failure of the legatee, as when the legatee dies before the testator.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
LAPSED
LAPSED Lapsed, a.
1. Having slipped downward, backward, or away; having lost position, privilege, etc. , by neglect; -- restricted to figurative uses. Once more I will renew His lapsed powers, though forfeit. Milton.
2. Ineffectual, void, or forfeited; as, a lapsed policy of insurance; a lapsed legacy. Lapsed devise, Lapsed legacy (Law ), a devise, or legacy, which fails to take effect in consequence of the death of the devisee, or legatee, before that of the testator, or for ether cause. Wharton (Law Dict. ).
New American Oxford Dictionary
lapsed
lapsed |lapst | ▶adjective no longer valid; expired: a lapsed insurance policy. • no longer following the rules and practices of a religion or doctrine; nonpracticing: a lapsed Catholic.
Oxford Dictionary
lapsed
lapsed |lapst | ▶adjective no longer valid; expired: a lapsed insurance policy. • no longer following the rules and practices of a religion or doctrine; non-practising: a lapsed Catholic.
American Oxford Thesaurus
lapsed
lapsed adjective 1 a lapsed Catholic: nonpracticing, backsliding, apostate; former. ANTONYMS practicing. 2 a lapsed membership: expired, void, invalid, out of date. ANTONYMS valid.
Oxford Thesaurus
lapsed
lapsed adjective 1 a lapsed Catholic: non-practising, lacking faith, backsliding, recidivist, apostate; formal quondam. ANTONYMS practising, devout. 2 a lapsed season ticket: expired, void, invalid, run out, out of date, terminated, discontinued, unrenewed. ANTONYMS current, valid.
The Wordsmith Dictionary