adjective

1. that falls short of the goal; unsuccessful or defective
2. potential but unrealized; would-be: placed after the noun it modifies [a scholar manqué]: also used of a woman, in which case it is spelled man·quée′ (-kā′)

Etymology: Fr < pp. manquer, to fail, be lacking < It mancare < manco, deficient < L mancus, infirm, defective < base of manus, hand: see manual