Forms: see FORFEIT. [a. OF. forfeture, forfaiture, f. forfait FORFEIT sb.]
† 1. Transgression or violation of a law; crime, sin; spec. in Law. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880) 348. Here-of schulden men not fayle wiþ-outen greet forfeture.
1414. Brampton, Penit. Ps. lxxiil. (Percy Soc.), 28.
| Whan I do ony forfeture, | |
| A contrite heart I offere to thé. |
1628. Coke, On Litt., 59. To do a thing against or without Law or Custome, and that legally is called a forfeiture.
† b. In weaker sense: A breach of rules. Obs.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 134–5. If afterwardes he touch the shoulder or any part of the legge, with any other thing than his knyfe, vntill he haue taken it out, it is a forfayture, and he is thought to be no handsome woodman.
† c. Forfeiture of marriage: (see quot.) Obs.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Forfeiture of mariage, (forisfactura maritagii) is a writ lying against him, who houlding by knights seruice, and being vnder age and vnmaried, refuseth her, whome the Lord offereth him, without his disparagement, and marieth another.
2. The fact of losing or becoming liable to deprivation of (an estate, goods, life, an office, right, etc.) in consequence of a crime, offence, or breach of engagement. Const. of, † on.
α. 13[?]. Coer de L., 257.
| On forfeyture on lyff and londe, | |
| For no thyng that they ne wonde. |
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 76. No brother no sister ne shalle discuse þe counseil of þis fratenitie to no straungere, vp þe payne of forfeture of þe fraternite for euermore. Ibid. (1467), 384. Vppon peyne of forfetor of xl.s.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 58 § 1. Actes of atteyndre and forfeiture made in the seid parliament.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 13 b. That there may be made due proues without fauoure, bribery, or extorcyon on payne of forfeyture of his offyce.
1614. Selden, Titles of Honor, 31. Those inferior Kings are like in some proportion to those of Man, who haue had it alwayes by a tenure from their soueraigns, the Kings of England, especially euer since Henrie IV., possessing it by the forfeiture of the Lord Scrop, inuested Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in it, in fee simple.
1741. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Full Forfeiture … is a forfeiture of life and member, and all else that a man has.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 267. Forfeiture is a punishment annexed by law to some illegal act, or negligence, in the owner of lands, tenements, or hereditaments; whereby he loses all his interest therein.
1864. Bp. of Lincoln, Charge, 6. The minimum which will satisfy the inspector, and save the forfeiture of the grant.
1868. E. Edwards, Raleigh, I. vi. 94. In the large forfeitures which followed the suppression of the rebellion of the Desmonds, a broad territory had been marked out for him.
β. 1542. Sc. Acts Mary (1814), II. 416/2. The said sentence of forfaltoure was gevine vpoune þe fift day of þe samin moneth.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Treatise, 132. The paine of treason is tynsell, and forefaltour of life, lands, gudes, and geir.
1755. R. Keith, Catal. Scot. Bps. (1824), 178. The same year he is witness to the forefaulture of the Earl of Ross.
transf. and fig. 1637–50. Row, The History of the Kirk of Scotland (1842), 539. I wold not goe over the bellie of my judgement, to the undoing of my peace, and foirfalture of my salvation.
1655. T. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. (1701), 27/1. What forfeiture you impose on others, undergo your self.
1713. Swift, Cadenus & Vanessa, Wks. 1755, III. II. 28.
| He has a Forfeiture incurr’d, | |
| She vows to take him at his Word. |
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. viii. (1863), VI. 110. A proud remorse does not forgive itself the forfeiture of its own dignity.
† b. The penally of the transgression; punishment for an offence. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 268.
| Lo, this shall be thy forfeiture; | |
| With that she both his sones slough | |
| Before his eye. |
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 221.
| Much less that durst upon his own head draw | |
| The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. |
3. concr. That which is forfeited; a pecuniary penalty, a fine. ? Obs.
a. 1399. Political Poems (Rolls), I. 412.
| Alle his ffynys ffor ffauȝtis, | |
| ne his ffee ffermes, | |
| ne fforffeyturis ffele … | |
| myȝte not areche, | |
| ne his rent nother, | |
| to paie the pore peple. |
1483. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 336. The same forfetoures to be enployed halfe to the said cite, and the oder halfe to the said ffraternite.
1588. Ld. Burghley, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 27. The forfeycture for every publique offence committed without the College to be collected, immediatelye after the offence done, by the bedells.
1607. Nottingham Rec., IV. 287. The order for v. li. forfeyture for refusinge to be Chamberlaynes to stand in force.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 116, 3 Jan., ¶ 7. I pronounced the Petticoat a Forfeiture.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. 57, note. One of the finest breeds [of horses], the Plamatian, was the forfeiture of a rebel.
1818. Cobbett, Pol. Reg., XXXIII. 712. In case of a Parson neglecting his duty in this respect, he was liable to a forfeiture, part of which went to the informer.
β. c. 1610. Sir J. Melvil, Mem. (1735), 226. Promising each of his Party a Share of the Forfaulters of the Queen’s Lords.
1661. Lauderdale, in L. Papers (1884), I. 93. Fines & forfaultures are wholly at my disposall.
transf. and fig. 1602. Narcissus (1893), 610. I prethy helpe mee foorth, els I am the rude woods forfeiture.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, II. vii. 105. Extraordinary merit has some forfeitures to pay.
1786. Henley, trans. Bedford’s Vathek (1868), 10. The exaction of these forfeitures [their beards], which found sufficient employment for the eunuchs, gave them such a smell of singed hair as greatly to disgust the ladies of the seraglio.
