Middle English Dictionary Entry
forfē̆t n.
Entry Info
| Forms | forfē̆t n. Also forfait, forfeit, forfect. |
| Etymology | From ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An offense against law or established authority; transgression, violation, crime, misdeed; don ~, offend, be guilty of an offense, commit a crime; presenten (in) ~, to make a formal accusation or indictment of crime; (b) an unfriendly act, an injury.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4583 : God his forfet hath so wroke That in Cronique it is yit spoke.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)212/29 : Þe man þat owede hit shulde falsely be enditede of fforfet or of ffelonye.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)15814 : Petre was in hande tane for forfait he had done.
- (1417) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120184 : Ife thay fynde any [gyrdels]..defaute or forfaitable, than the sercheours present the defaute or the forfaite unto the mair.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)195/36 : He schall fynde no forfete among vs.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.851 : He present in a forfet of John Fysshe girdeler, made in hys crafte, for stuthes of xxxiij gyrdels of menged metaill, agayn ye ordenaunce of hys crafte.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)34/4 : Alexander..walde noȝte putt Scrassageras oute of his lordechipe upon lesse þan forfett vn-till hym.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)283/325 : It is no menske to youre manhed..To forbere such forfettis.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)120/6 : He had do a forfeit vnto the kinge Dauid.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.23/21 : If þey or there men be amercid..for oony cause, trespas or forfete.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)179 : Thei schuld in Westminster Halle ask the King forgifnesse of alle here furfetis.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)188 : These too Spenseris had offered hemself oftentyme to answere to here accuseris, and to make amendis to ony forfet that myte be seid ageyn hem.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)110/40 : I dede nevyr forfete with man, iwys.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)9207 : Whan that he doth forfete, As a mayster thow shalt hym bete.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)69 : The Kynge praide his barons..that thei wolde hym helpe to redresse that forfet, and avenge the shame that he hadde hym don.
b
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)6262 : Yette a gretter forfette ones dyd he, And þat I forgaffe hym truly.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)501 : Sir Gawein..pardoned hem alle forfetes.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)789 : Myn hert, nor I, haue done you no forfait.
2.
Penalty exacted for an offense, loss of life or property; upon ~, on pain of losing; pein and ~, punishment and penalty.
Associated quotations
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.114 : Alle Rome Renners..Bere no seluer ouer see..Vppon Forfet [B, C: forfeture] of þat Fe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2721 : His [a king's] pouer stant above the lawe, To yive bothe and to withdrawe The forfet of a mannes lif.
- (?1398) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12092 : Item that noo saddiller..set no seyte but of newe cannes or lewent, apon the same peyn and forfect of iij s. iiij d.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2298 : I doute it for destany and drede at þe ende..That we falle into forfet..And chese vs a chaunse þat cheuys to noght.
3.
Something seized or confiscated as punishment for a crime; a fine.
Associated quotations
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)225/13 : Þai token þe godes..and lete ham calle his forfaitz..and disheritede al ham þat þe gode oweden.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)577 : He shalle resayue Alle þat is gedurt..Of þe lordes courtes and forfetis.
4.
A right or title obtained as a result of another's offense; the right to seize the property of offenders, right to collect fines.
Associated quotations
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.246 : Whan it shal lyke hym to desire of þe Kyng eny oþer landes or lordships..as by escheet, forfait, rebellion, or suche oþer title, þat þei shal so acquyte hem..þat his lordship shal be plesed.
- (1439) RParl.5.22a : Provided alway, that this present Act and Ordinance extende hem noght..to non other Possessions, Franchesies, Libertees..Enheritances, Forfaites, Eschetes, other ony other Issues, Profites or Commoditees, the which Sir.John Cornewaill Lorde of Faunhope holdyth.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)367 : The king..ȝeueth the avauntagis, as forfetis, eschetis, and mercimentis, and fynys, to tho lordis for her labour.