miscarry

Verb

1. To have an unfortunate accident of some kind; to be killed, or come to harm.
2. To go astray; to do something wrong.
3. To have a miscarriage; to involuntarily abort a foetus.
4. To fail to achieve some purpose; to be unsuccessful, to go wrong (of a business, project etc.).
   • So, if a Sonne that is by his Father ſent about Merchandize, doe ſinfully miſcarry vpon the Sea; the imputation of his vvickedneſſe, by your rule, ſhould be impoſed vpon his Father that ſent him: […] - 1599 (date...
   • Pluto observing, since the Peace, The Burial Article decrease; And, vext to see Affairs miscarry, Declar'd in Council, Death must marry […] - 1730, Jonathan Swift, “Death And Daphne,”, in Some Verse Pieces:
5. Of a letter etc.: to fail to reach its intended recipient.
   • Sir Nathaniel, this Biron is one of the votaries with the king; and here he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen's, which accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried. - c. 1595–1596...
   • It likewise alluded to several letters, which, as it appeared to me, must have miscarried or have been intercepted,[…]. - 1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter V, in Rob Roy. […], volume II,...
   • Since the luckless Friday morning he had neither been seen nor heard of; day after day, Adeline had trusted to receive a letter, but in those times posts were slow and uncertain, messengers and couriers were often...