forfeit etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: forfeiten, from Anglo-Norman French forfeter, from Old French forfaire, from Old Provençal forfaire
• Latin: foris ("outside") + factus ("made")

Meaning:

• To give up or surrender something as a penalty for an offense or default
• To lose something because of failure to meet an obligation

Origin:

The word "forfeit" ultimately comes from the Latin phrase "foris factus," meaning "made outside." This refers to the ancient practice of outlawing criminals or those who had committed serious offenses. These individuals were forced to live outside the community and forfeit their rights and possessions.

Over time, the meaning of "forfeit" evolved to refer to any situation where something was given up or lost as a consequence of an offense or failure to meet an obligation. It is commonly used in legal and financial contexts, as well as in games and competitions.

forfeit relate terms

• foreclose

  Etymology The word foreclose comes from the Middle English word forclosen which in t

• foreign

  Etymology The word foreign derives from the Old French forain meaning from outside

• close

  Etymology Middle English cloosen from Old English lūcan Proto Germanic lūkaną P

• fore

  Etymology Middle English fore from Old English fore in front of before in time or p

• forfeit

  Etymology Middle English forfeiten from Anglo Norman French forfeter from Old French

• foreign

  Etymology The word foreign derives from the Old French forain meaning from outside

• fremd

  Etymology The English word fremd comes from the German word fremd which means stra

• claim

  Etymology Old French clamer reclamer Late Latin clamare to cry out call for Indo

• waive

  Etymology Old French waiver weyver Late Latin waiviare Frankish waihan to abandon

• forego

  Etymology Middle English forgon forgehen from Old English forgān forgietan Proto

• handicap

  Etymology The word handicap derives from the 16th century term hand in cap referrin

• confiscate

  Etymology Latin confisco French confisquer Middle English confisken Meaning To se

• aplenty

  Etymology The word aplenty is derived from the Old English phrase in plente which me

• penalty

  Etymology The word penalty is derived from the Late Latin term poena which means p

• abandon

  Etymology Origin Middle English abandonar from Old French abandoner from Late Latin