The Only Use of
lapse
in
To Kill a Mockingbird
- Reverend Sykes used his pulpit more freely to express his views on individual lapses from grace:
p. 138.9lapses = an undesired change in behavior
Definitions:
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(1)
(lapse as in: a lapse in judgement) a change in behavior or state--usually undesired such as a temporary failureThe exact meaning of this sense of lapse is often subject to its context:
- basic example that simply indicates an undesired change in behavior -- "lapsed into alcoholism"
- example indicating that the change was short-term and due to a failure (often of effort or diligence) -- "a lapse in judgment"
- example indicating return to a previous undesired behavior or state -- "lapsed into her old bad habits"
- examples indicating a change in what was occurring where the change is not necessarily negative -- "There was a lapse in the conversation," or "She stopped talking as she lapsed into her own internal world."
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(2)
(lapse as in: allowed the policy to lapse) end or terminate -- often of legal rights or of a person's association with an organization
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(3)
(lapse as in: after the lapse of many hours) a period of time -- often a period that has passed