I. adjective
Etymology: from past participle of lapse (II)
1. : surrendered or nullified because of failure to meet stipulated obligations : forfeited, void
dispose of the realm as a lapsed fief — G.C.Sellery
the widow gets no insurance because of a lapsed policy
2. : guilty of error or defection : fallen ; specifically : apostate
the deliberately lapsed Catholic cannot be such without mortal sin — D.J.Corrigan
3. : dropped out of sight or use : vanished
now in the moonlight, and now lapsed in shade — Lord Byron
the lapsed custom of an annual dinner — John Bull
II. noun plural
: early Christians deserting the faith because of persecution
in Rome the bishop … was prepared to permit the restoration of the lapsed — K.S.Latourette