contrivance vs forfeit

contrivance

noun
  • Something overly artful or artificial. 

  • A means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective. 

  • A (mechanical) device to perform a certain task. 

forfeit

noun
  • Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game. 

  • A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor. 

  • 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. 

verb
  • To fail to keep an obligation. 

  • 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 

  • To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance 

  • To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. 

adj
  • Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure. 

How often have the words contrivance and forfeit occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )