All 12 Uses of
forfeit
in
The Merchant of Venice
- Go with me to a notary, seal me there Your single bond; and, in a merry sport, If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me.†
Scene 1.3
- Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it; Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond.†
Scene 1.3
- ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly To seal love's bonds new made than they are wont To keep obliged faith unforfeited!†
Scene 2.6unforfeited = not surrendered or loststandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unforfeited means not and reverses the meaning of forfeited. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh:
Scene 3.1 *forfeit = loses by not paying
- I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for, were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandise I will.†
Scene 3.1
- 'Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are clear'd between you and I, if I might but see you at my death.†
Scene 3.2
- I have possess'd your Grace of what I purpose, And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond.†
Scene 4.1
- I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.†
Scene 4.1
- Yes; here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum; if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart; If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth.†
Scene 4.1
- Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart.†
Scene 4.1
- Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself; And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.†
Scene 4.1
- I once did lend my body for his wealth, Which, but for him that had your husband's ring, Had quite miscarried; I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly.†
Scene 5.1
Definitions:
-
(1)
(forfeit) to lose or surrender something -- often as a penalty
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
More rarely, forfeit is used as a noun to reference that which was lost or surrendered.