Forfeit — Defs

01 n. Injury; wrong; mischief.

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.

02 a. Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.

1.
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.

03 v. t. 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 aliena…

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.” — Burke.

“Undone and forfeited to cares forever!” — Shak.

04 v. i. To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.

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.

05 p. p. [or] a. In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation.

1.
In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation.
“Once more I will renew His lapsèd powers, though forfeite.” — Milton.