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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit. Ld. Berners. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits. [ 1913 Webster ]

Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. forfait, p. p. of forfaire. See Forfeit, n. ] Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy wealth being forfeit to the state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tread the forfeit paradise. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] had forfeited their property by their crimes. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Undone and forfeited to cares forever! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fail to keep an obligation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I will have the heart of him if he forfeit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. or a. In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Once more I will renew
His lapsèd powers, though forfeite. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Liable to be forfeited; subject to forfeiture. [ 1913 Webster ]

For the future, uses shall be subject to the statutes of mortmain, and forfeitable, like the lands themselves. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who incurs a penalty of forfeiture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. forfeiture, LL. forisfactura. ] 1. The act of forfeiting; the loss of some right, privilege, estate, honor, office, or effects, by an offense, crime, breach of condition, or other act. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under pain of foreiture of the said goods. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is forfeited; a penalty; a fine or mulct. [ 1913 Webster ]

What should I gain
By the exaction of the forfeiture? Shak.

Syn. -- Fine; mulct; amercement; penalty. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. for- + fend. See Forewend. ] To prohibit; to forbid; to avert. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Which peril heaven forefend! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This is etymologically the preferable spelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. [ See For-, and Fear. ] Excessively alarmed; in great fear. [ Obs. ] “Forfered of his death.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ See Forfeit. ] To incur a penalty; to transgress. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And all this suffered our Lord Jesus Christ that never forfeted. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] A pair of shears. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Zool.) A bright-colored domesticated variety of the id. See Id. [ 1913 Webster ]