forfeit
forfeit is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 7 senses, and appears in Roget's Thesaurus (1911) with 40 related terms. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.
Definitions
- 1.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.
- 2.Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits. Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day. Goldsmith.
- 3.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.
- 4.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.
- 5.To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. [Obs.]
- 6.To fail to keep an obligation. [Obs.] I will have the heart of him if he forfeit. Shak.
- 7.In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation. Shak. Once more I will renew His lapsèd powers, though forfeite. Milton.
Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
Synonyms
Related terms (Roget's 1911)
- absolve
- adieu
- allow
- amende
- amends
- and
- apologize
- apology
- ashes
- aside
- atone
- atonement
- back
- bad
- beg
- bereavement
- bereft
- break
- burnt
- cancel
- close
- coach
- come
- compensation
- composition
- compromise
- conciliation
- cut
- damage
- declare
- deperdition
- deprivation
- discard
- disobedience
- dispossession
- down
- drive
- elude
- elusive
- evade
Source: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
Related questions
Reverse-dictionary questions
Definition-first questions whose answer is forfeit.
- What is something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits. Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day. Goldsmith called?
- What is 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 called?
- What is to be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. [Obs.] called?
- What is to fail to keep an obligation. [Obs.] I will have the heart of him if he forfeit. Shak called?
- What is in the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation. Shak. Once more I will renew His lapsèd powers, though forfeite. Milton called?
Sources
- Definitions: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Synonyms: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/word/forfeit
- Steward: Jason Burns