1. A leader, or would-be leader, in matters of knowledge or taste. [Obs.]
Nor that the forewits, that would draw the rest unto their liking, always like the best.
B. Jonson. 2. Foresight; prudence.
Let this forewit guide thy thought.
Southwell. Forewite
(Fore*wite") v. t. [pres. indic. sing., 1st & 3d pers. Forewot 2d person Forewost pl. Forewiten
; imp. sing. Forewiste pl. Forewisten ; p. pr. & vb. n. Forewiting ] [AS. forewitan. See Wit to
know.] To foreknow. [Obs.] [Written also forwete.] Chaucer.
Forewoman
(Fore"wom`an) n.; pl. Forewomen A woman who is chief; a woman who has charge of the
work or workers in a shop or other place; a head woman. Tatler. W. Besant.
Foreword
(Fore"word`) n. A preface. Furnvall.
Foreworn
(Fore*worn") a. [See Forworn.] Worn out; wasted; used up. [Archaic]
Old foreworn stories almost forgotten.
Brydges. Forewot
(Fore*wot") pres. indic., 1st & 3d pers. sing. of Forewite. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Foreyard
(Fore"yard`) n. (Naut.) The lowermost yard on the foremast. [See Illust. of Ship.]
Forfalture
(For"fal*ture) n. Forfeiture. [Obs.]
Forfeit
(For"feit) n. [OE. forfet crime, penalty, F. forfait crime (LL. forefactum, forifactum), prop. p.
p. of forfaire to forfeit, transgress, fr. LL. forifacere, prop., to act beyond; L. foris out of doors, abroad,
beyond + facere to do. See Foreign, and Fact.]
1. Injury; wrong; mischief. [Obs. & R.]
To seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit.
Ld. Berners. 2. A thing forfeit or forfeited; what is or may be taken from one in requital of a misdeed committed; that
which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, offense, neglect of duty, or breach of contract; hence,
a fine; a mulct; a penalty; as, he who murders pays the forfeit of his life.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits.
Shak. 3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; — whence the game of forfeits.
Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.
Goldsmith. Forfeit
(For"feit), a. [F. forfait, p. p. of forfaire. See Forfeit, n.] Lost or alienated for an offense or
crime; liable to penal seizure.
Thy wealth being forfeit to the state.
Shak.
To tread the forfeit paradise.
Emerson. Forfeit
(For"feit), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forfeited; p. pr. & vb. n. Forfeiting.] [OE. forfeten. See Forfeit,
n.] To lose, or lose the right to, by some error, fault, offense, or crime; to render one's self by misdeed
