Past tense of lack; was without or deficient in something needed or desired.
From Middle Dutch laken 'to be deficient' or Middle Low German laken 'to blame, find fault'. Entered English in the 12th century, originally meaning 'to find fault with' before developing the sense of 'to be without'.
The word 'lack' originally had a more active meaning of criticism or blame, similar to 'lacking judgment.' Over centuries, it shifted to describe passive absence rather than active fault-finding, showing how word meanings can completely reverse.
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