Main Entry:

¹for·feit

Pronunciation:

\ˈfȯr-fət\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English forfait, from Anglo-French, from past participle of forfaire, forsfaire to commit a crime, forfeit, from fors outside (from Latin foris) + faire to do, from Latin facere — more at forum, do

Date:

14th century

1: something forfeited or subject to being forfeited (as for a crime, offense, or neglect of duty) : penalty2: forfeiture especially of civil rights3 a: something deposited (as for making a mistake in a game) and then redeemed on payment of a fine bplural : a game in which forfeits are exacted