Forfeit word meaning and definition

[noun] the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
[noun] a penalty for a fault or mistake that involves losing or giving up something; "the contract specified forfeits if the work was not completed on time"
[noun] something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty;
[adjective] surrendered as a penalty
[verb] lose or lose the right to by some error, offense, or crime

\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 laps[`e]d powers, though forfeite. --Milton.

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