n.
Pronunciation: ' fo ̇ r-f ə t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English forfait, from Anglo-French, from past participle of forfaire, forsfaire to commit a crime, forfeit, from fors outside (fr. 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