something to which the right is lost, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract.
an article deposited in a game because of a mistake and redeemable by a fine or penalty.
forfeits, (used with a singular verb) a game in which such articles are taken from the players.
verb (used with object)
to subject to seizure as a forfeit.
to lose or become liable to lose, as in consequence of crime, fault, or breach of engagement.
adjective
lost or subject to loss by forfeiture.
Origin of forfeit
1250–1300; Middle English forfet<Old French (past participle of forfaire to commit crime, to lose possession or right through a criminal act) <Medieval Latin forīs factum penalty, past participle of forīs facere to transgress, equivalent to Latin forīs outside, wrongly + facere to make, do
To risk eye contact with any of the above is to forfeit all singles in your wallet.
Leaky Ceilings, Catcalls, and Uncaged Pythons: 4 Hours on NYC’s Worst Subway|Kevin Zawacki|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last September, Sexton pleaded guilty in New York state court to money laundering and agreed to forfeit $600,000.
Las Vegas Betting Scandal Earns $5.5 Million Fine but the Boss Walks|John L. Smith|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is there anything Zarif could do to forfeit his credentials as a “moderate”?
How Iran, Putin and Assad Outwitted America|David Keyes|January 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Crackpots eventually reveal themselves as such, and forfeit their influence in consequence.
Michael Scheuer’s Meltdown|David Frum|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Individuals who are found to store their weapons unsafely could forfeit for a time their ownership rights.
What If We Treated Guns Like Cars?|David Frum|September 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I always knew that if suspected my life would pay the forfeit; but I know not how the authorship has been discovered.
The Secret Chamber at Chad|Evelyn Everett-Green
But this morning it is a bull they are rounding-up; and a bull that had grown so savage and intractable that his life was forfeit.
Unexplored Spain|Abel Chapman
If unsuccessful, she returns to her place and pays a forfeit, which is redeemed at the end of the game.
Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium|Jessie H. Bancroft
He exerted himself to save the souls of those whose bodies were forfeit by reason of relapse, and succeeded in all cases but one.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume III|Henry Charles Lea
Men who commit crimes against the civil laws of the United States forfeit their rights of citizenship.
History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III)|Various
British Dictionary definitions for forfeit
forfeit
/ (ˈfɔːfɪt) /
noun
something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc
the act of losing or surrendering something in this manner
lawsomething confiscated as a penalty for an offence, breach of contract, etc
(sometimes plural)
a game in which a player has to give up an object, perform a specified action, etc, if he commits a fault
an object so given up
verb
(tr)to lose or be liable to lose in consequence of a mistake, fault, etc
(tr)law
to confiscate as punishment
to surrender (something exacted as a penalty)
adjective
surrendered or liable to be surrendered as a penalty
Derived forms of forfeit
forfeitable, adjectiveforfeiter, noun
Word Origin for forfeit
C13: from Old French forfet offence, from forfaire to commit a crime, from Medieval Latin foris facere to act outside (what is lawful), from Latin foris outside + facere to do