For"feit (?), n. [OE. forfet
crime, penalty, F. forfait crime (LL. forefactum,
forifactum), prop. p. p. of forfaire to forfeit,
transgress, fr. LL. forifacere, prop., to act beyond; L.
foris out of doors, abroad, beyond + facere to do. See
Foreign, and Fact.] 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.
Shak.
3. Something deposited and redeemable by a
sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits.
Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest
of the day.
Goldsmith.
For"feit, a. [F. forfait, p. p.
of forfaire. See Forfeit, n.]
Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal
seizure.
Thy wealth being forfeit to the
state.
Shak.
To tread the forfeit paradise.
Emerson.
For"feit, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Forfeited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Forfeiting.] [OE. forfeten. See Forfeit,
n.] 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.
Burke.
Undone and forfeited to cares
forever!
Shak.
For"feit, 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.
Shak.
For"feit, p. p. or a. In the
condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation.
Shak.
Once more I will renew
His lapsèd powers, though forfeite.
Milton.
