contracts. A part of a debt due by contract, and agreed to be paid at a time different from that fixed for the, payment of the other part. For example, if I engage to pay you one thousand dollars, in two payments, one on the first clay of January, and the other on the first day of July, each of these payments or obligations to pay will be an installment . 2. In such case each installment is a separate debt so far that it may be tendered at any time, or the first may be sued for although the other shall not be due. 3. A debtor who by failing to pay three installments of rent due on a lease would forfeit his estate, may, in order to save it, tender one installment to prevent the forfeiture, although there may be two due at the time, and he is not bound to tender both.