Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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adj
Of a person or animal, their actions, thoughts, etc.: brutal, cruel, harsh, heartless; also, evil, wicked.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: poetic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Of a place: harsh, savage, wild; of a thing: deadly; harmful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Obtained through a felony; stolen.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person who has committed a felony (“a serious criminal offence”); specifically, one who has been tried and convicted of such a crime.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: criminal law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: criminal, convict, culprit, malefactor
noun
An evil or wicked person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A predatory animal regarded as cruel or wicked.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A small infected sore; an abscess, a boil.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, medicine, natural-sciences, pathology, sciences, veterinary, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A small infected sore; an abscess, a boil.
A whitlow (“infection near or under a fingernail or toenail”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often, specifically
Topics: biology, medicine, natural-sciences, pathology, sciences, veterinary, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: criminal, crook, outlaw, malefactor
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: principal
Narrower terms: accessory, accessary, arsonist, incendiary, firebug, blackmailer, extortioner, extortionist, bootlegger, moonshiner, briber, suborner, conspirator, coconspirator, plotter, machinator, desperado, desperate criminal, fugitive, fugitive from justice, gangster, mobster, highbinder, highjacker, hijacker, hood, hoodlum, goon, punk, thug, tough, toughie, strong-armer, jail bird, jailbird, gaolbird, kidnapper, kidnaper, abductor, snatcher, mafioso, moll, gun moll, gangster's moll, murderer, liquidator, manslayer, probationer, parolee, pusher, drug peddler, peddler, drug dealer, drug trafficker, racketeer, raper, rapist, recidivist, repeater, habitual criminal, scofflaw, smuggler, runner, contrabandist, moon curser, moon-curser, thief, stealer, traitor, treasonist, violator, lawbreaker, law offender, Bonney, William H. Bonney, Billie the Kid, James, Jesse James, MacGregor, Robert MacGregor, Rob Roy
noun
a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: whitlow
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: infection
History
The adjective is derived from Middle English feloun, felun (“base, wicked; hostile; of an animal: dangerous; of words: angry, harsh, slanderous; of things: dangerous, deadly; false, fraudulent; unlucky”) [and other forms], from Old French felon (“bad, evil, immoral”) (compare fel (“evil; despicable, vile”)), from Early Medieval Latin fellōnem; further etymology uncertain. Doublet of fell (“of a strong and cruel nature; fierce; grim; ruthless, savage”). Etymology 1, adjective sense 3 (“obtained through a felony”) is derived from the noun. The noun is derived from Middle English feloun, felun (“criminal, specifically one who has committed a felony, felon; cruel, hostile, violent, etc., person; deceiver; evildoer, monster, sinner; traitor; bold or fierce warrior; deceit, falseness; wickedness, wrongdoing; treachery”) [and other forms], from feloun, felun (adjective): see above. Cognates * Catalan felló (adjective) * French félon (adjective, noun) * Italian fellone (adjective, noun) * Occitan felon, felhon, fellon (adjective) * Spanish felón (adjective, noun)
From Middle English feloun, felone (“type of carbuncle or sore with pus; swelling on a hawk’s body”), possibly from Old French *felon, from Latin fel (“bile, gall; bitterness; poison; venom”): see etymology 1.
Across languages
48 source translations are retained for this English entry.
