FORFEIT • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Forfeit

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/fˈɔrfɪt/ Listen

noun

Forfeit n.

Injury; wrong; mischief. (Obs. & R.) "To seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit."

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."

Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; whence the game of forfeits. "Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day."

verb

Forfeit v. t. (past & past part. forfeited; pres. part. forfeiting) 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.

To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. (Obs.)

To fail to keep an obligation. (Obs.) "I will have the heart of him if he forfeit."

Forfeit past part., adj. In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation. "Once more I will renew His lapsèd powers, though forfeite."

adjective

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

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Etymology of 'Forfeit'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Forfeit" Quotes from Famous Books

... to. infringe, transgress, violate, pirate, break, trample under foot, do violence to, drive a coach and six through. discard, protest, repudiate, fling to the winds, set at naught, nullify, declare null and void; cancel &c (wipe off) 552. retract, go back from, be off, forfeit, go from one's word, palter; stretch a point, strain a point. Adj. violating &c v.; lawless, transgressive; elusive, evasive. unfulfilled &c ...

— Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases: Body • Roget

... pupil's privileges were to depend upon his diligence and his good behavior. It would be almost impossible for a boy who wanted to go to Paris while the ship was lying at Havre, so far to neglect his duties as to forfeit the privilege of going. As these gentlemen have not been formally introduced, the "faculty" of the ship ...

— Outward Bound - Or, Young America Afloat • Oliver Optic

... affrighted magnet flies the faithless pole; Nature portends a general change of laws, My daring deeds are deemed the guilty cause; The desperate crew, to insurrection driven, Devote their captain to the wrath of heaven, Resolve at once to end the audacious strife, And buy their safety with his forfeit life. ...

— The Columbiad • Joel Barlow

... vessels sailing before my mansion, and one of the largest vessels must fire a royal salute, and the last round must break the leg of the bed where my young daughter is sleeping. And if you don't do that, you will have to forfeit your life." ...

— English Fairy Tales • Joseph Jacobs (coll. & ed.)

... mark him well: For him no minstrel raptures swell; High though his titles, proud his name, Boundless his wealth as wish can claim: Despite those titles, power, and pelf, The wretch concentered all in self, Living, shall forfeit fair renown And, doubly dying, shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung, Unwept, ...

— Composition-Rhetoric • Stratton D. Brooks

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