What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Mulct vs Forfeit - What's the difference?

mulct | forfeit | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between mulct and forfeit

is that mulct is a fine or penalty, especially a pecuniary one while forfeit is a penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.

As verbs the difference between mulct and forfeit

is that mulct is to impose such a fine or penalty while forfeit is to suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance.

As an adjective forfeit is

lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.

mulct

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (legal) A fine or penalty, especially a pecuniary one.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I:
    • juries cast up what a wife is worth, / By laying whate'er sum in mulct they please on / The lover, who must pay a handsome price, / Because it is a marketable vice.
  • * 1846 , Thomas Babington Macauley, The History of England from the Accession of James II, Volume 3 , Porter & Coates, Chapter XI:
    • The Act of Uniformity had laid a mulct of a hundred pounds on every person who, not having received episcopal ordination, should presume to administer the Eucharist.
  • * 1846 , , History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic , 10th ed., Volume I, page xxxvi, note
    • by the Salic law, no higher mulct was imposed for killing, than for kidnapping a slave.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To impose such a fine or penalty.
  • *
  • *
  • To swindle (someone) out of money.

    • forfeit

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.
    • That he our deadly forfeit should release'' (John Milton, ''On the Morning of Christ's Nativity , 1629)
  • A thing forfeited; that which is taken from somebody in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, breach of contract, etc.
    • He who murders pays the forfeit of his own life.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal / Remit thy other forfeits .
  • Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.
  • * Goldsmith
    • Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.
  • (obsolete, rare) Injury; wrong; mischief.
  • * Ld. Berners
    • to seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance
    • He forfeited his last chance of an early release from jail by repeatedly attacking another inmate.
  • To lose a contest, game, match, or other form of competition by voluntary withdrawal, by failing to attend or participate, or by violation of the rules
    • Because only nine players were present, the football team was forced to forfeit the game.
  • To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.
  • To fail to keep an obligation.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I will have the heart of him if he forfeit .

    Usage notes

    * Very rarely, forfeit is used as the past tense form and past participle (i.e., the past tense forms and the present tense form are homographs).

    Synonyms

    * (lose a contest) capitulate, surrender * (voluntarily give up) forgo, withgo

    Derived terms

    * forfeits * nonforfeited * nonforfeiting * nonforfeiture

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.
  • * Shakespeare
    • thy wealth being forfeit to the state
  • * Emerson
    • to tread the forfeit paradise
    English irregular verbs English verbs with base form identical to past participle English words not following the I before E except after C rule