forfeit sb. (1 the orig. sense)
1.
breach,
violation (of an obligation) Mer.V. V. i. 252*, Rom. I. i. 103*
“Your lives shall pay the
forfeit of the peace.”
2.
penal fine, penalty
for breach of contract or neglect of duty Mer.V. I. iii. 149,
IV. i. 37,
Rom. I. iv. 112
“some vile forfeit of
untimely death”
; fig. Cym. V. v.
209.
3.
person handed over to
the law or to death
Meas. II. ii. 71
“Your brother is a
forfeit of the law,”
IV. ii. 166, Troil. IV. v. 186*
“Despising many forfeits and
subduements.”
4.
forfeiture, loss
Meas. I. iv. 66, Mer.V. IV. i. 212, All'sW. III. vi. 33,
3H6 II. i. 197
“make of his
head.”
