lapse
     n 1: a mistake resulting from inattention [syn: {oversight}]
     2: a break or intermission in the occurrence of something; "a
        lapse of three weeks between letters"
     3: a failure to maintain a higher state [syn: {backsliding}, {lapsing},
         {relapse}, {relapsing}, {reversion}, {reverting}]
     v 1: pass into a specified state or condition; "He sank into
          Nirvana" [syn: {sink}, {pass}]
     2: end, at least for a long time; "The correspondence lapsed"
     3: drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards [syn:
         {backslide}]
     4: go back to bad behavior; "Those who recidivate are often
        minor criminals" [syn: {relapse}, {recidivate}, {regress},
         {retrogress}, {fall back}]
     5: let slip; "He lapsed his membership"
     6: pass by; "three years elapsed" [syn: {elapse}, {pass}, {slip
        by}, {glide by}, {slip away}, {go by}, {slide by}, {go
        along}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0