n. In ecclesiastical law. The transfer, by forfeiture, of a right to present or collate to a vacant benefice from a person vested with such right to another, in consequence of some act of negligence by the former. Ayl. Par. 331. In the law of wills. The failure of a testamentary gift in consequence of the death of the devisee or legatee during the life of the testator. In criminal proceedings, “lapse” is used, in England, in the same sense as “abate” in ordinary procedure; i. e., to signify that the proceedings came to an end by the death of one of the parties or some other event.