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.]