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) : penalty
2 : forfeiture especially of civil rights
3 a : something deposited (as for making a mistake in a game) and then redeemed on payment of a fine b plural : a game in which forfeits are exacted