forfeiture
(ˈfɔːfɪtjʊ(r))
Forms: see forfeit.
[a. OF. forfeture, forfaiture, f. forfait forfeit n.]
† 1. Transgression or violation of a law; crime, sin; spec. in Law. Obs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 348 Hereof schulden men not fayle wiþouten greet forfeture. 1414 Brampton Penit. Ps. lxxiii. (Percy Soc.) 28 Whan I do ony forfeture, A contrite heart I offere to the. 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 If..he touch the shoulder..with any other thing than his knyfe..it is a forfayture. |
† c. forfeiture of marriage: (see
quot.).
Obs.| 1607 Cowell Interpr., Forfeiture of mariage, is a writ lying against him, who houlding by knights seruice, and being vnder age and vnmaried, refuseth her, whome the Lord offereth him..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 Forfeyture on lyff and londe. 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 76 No brother..shalle discuse þe counseil of þis fraternite to no straungere, vp þe payne of forfeture of þe fraternite. 1467 Ibid. 384 Vppon peyne of forfetor of xls. 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.. on payne of forfeyture of his offyce. 1614 Selden Titles Hon. 31 Henrie iv., possessing it by the forfeiture of the Lord Scrop. 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 The large forfeitures which followed the suppression of the rebellion of the Desmonds. |
| 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 Hist. Kirk (1842) 539 The undoing of my peace, and foirfalture of my Saluation. 1655 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. 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 penalty of the transgression; punishment for an offence.
Obs.| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 268 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.| α 1399 Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 412 Alle his ffynys..ne fforffeyturis ffele..myȝte not areche 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 by the bedells. 1607 Nottingham Rec. IV. 287 The order for v. li. forfeyture for refusinge to be Chamberlaynes. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 116 ¶7, I pronounced the Petticoat a Forfeiture. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. II. 57 One of the finest breeds [of horses]..was the forfeiture of a rebel. 1818 Cobbett Pol. Reg. XXXIII. 712 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 and for⁓faultures are wholly at my disposall. |
| transf. and fig. 1602 Narcissus (1893) 611 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 tr. Beckford's Vathek (1868) 10 The exaction of these forfeitures [their beards]. |