Forms: see prec. [ad. OF. forfait, pa. pple. of forfaire:—late L. forisfacĕre: see prec. In early use serving as pa. pple. of next.]

1

  That has been lost or has to be given up as the penalty of a crime or fault or breach of engagement. Const. † till, to, unto.

2

  α.  1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 194.

        That ye this thing no lenger let,
So that your life be nought forfete.

3

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 716.

        Hale he tuk in-til Ethchet
As þai had fallyne til hym forfet.

4

1538.  Fitzherb., Just. Peas (1514), 38 b. The value of them is forfayt, halfe to the fyndours or serchers therof.

5

1594.  Plat, The Jewell House of Art and Nature, I. 5. All such ground as became forfeit and confiscate vnto the Crowne, by reason of any high and capitall offence committed, should be ploughed and sowed with salt.

6

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, IV. iii. 216. His braines are forfeite to the next tile that fals.

7

1608.  Markham & Machin, Dumb Knight, V. i.

        As for this monster, this my tempting diuell,
Whose forfait life is witnesse to his shame.

8

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 710.

        Straight all his Hopes exhal’d in empty Smoke;
And his long Toils were forfeit for a Look.

9

1735.  Somerville, The Chace, III. 63.

        Behold the just Avenger, swift to seize
His forfeit Head, and thirsting for his Blood.

10

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), II. ix. 110. These have half redeemed his forfeit fame, and misled a generous posterity.

11

1847.  Emerson, May-Day, Poems (1857), 43.

        And wakes the wish in youngest blood
To tread the forfeit Paradise,
And feed once more the exile’s eyes.

12

1859.  Gladstone, Horace’s Odes, III. ix.

        My forfeit life I’ll freely give,
So she, my better life, may live.

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  β.  1423.  Jas. I., Kingis Q., cxli.

        All though my lyf suld forfaut be therefore,
Blisful princes! I can seye ȝou no more.

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