Forfeit /(?)/

For·feit

Forfeit

n.
  1. Injury; wrong; mischief. [Obs. & R.]
    To seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit.
    — Ld. Berners.
  2. A thing forfeit or forfeited; what is or may be taken from one in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, offense, neglect of duty, or breach of contract; hence, a fine; a mulct; a penalty; as, he who murders pays the forfeit of his life.
    Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits.
  3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits.
    Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.

Forfeit

a.
  1. Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.
    Thy wealth being forfeit to the state.
    To tread the forfeit paradise.

Forfeit

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Forfeited; p. pr. & vb. n. Forfeiting

  1. To lose, or lose the right to, by some error, fault, offense, or crime; to render one's self by misdeed liable to be deprived of; to alienate the right to possess, by some neglect or crime; as, to forfeit an estate by treason; to forfeit reputation by a breach of promise; -- with to before the one acquiring what is forfeited.
    [They] had forfeited their property by their crimes.
    Undone and forfeited to cares forever!

Forfeit

v. i.
  1. To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. [Obs.]
  2. To fail to keep an obligation. [Obs.]
    I will have the heart of him if he forfeit.

Forfeit

p. p. [or] a.
  1. In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation.
    Once more I will renew His lapsèd powers, though forfeite.