Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FOR'FEIT, v.t. [for'fit; Fr. forfaire, forfait; Low L. forisfacere, from L. foris, out or abroad, and facio, to make; Norm. forface, forfeit, and forfist, forfeited.]

To lose or render confiscable, by some fault, offense or crime; to lose the right to some species of property or that which belongs to one; to alienate the right to possess by some neglect or crime; as, to forfeit an estate by a breach of the condition of tenure or by treason. By the ancient laws of England, a man forfeited his estate by neglecting or refusing to fulfill the conditions on which it was granted to him, or by a breach of fealty. A man now forfeits his estate by committing treason. A man forfeits his honor or reputation by a breach of promise, and by any criminal or disgraceful act. Statutes declare that by certain acts a man shall forfeit a certain sum of money. Under the feudal system, the right to the land forfeited, vested in the lord or superior. In modern times, the right to things forfeited is generally regulated by statutes; it is vested in the state, in corporations, or in prosecutors or informers, or partly in the state or a corporation, and partly in an individual. The duelist, to secure the reputation of bravery, forfeits the esteem of good men, and the favor of heaven.