felo-de-se

noun

plural felones-de-se fə-ˌlō-(ˌ)nēz-də-ˈsā How to pronounce felo-de-se (audio)
-ˈsē
or felos-de-se ˌfe-lōz-də-ˈsā How to pronounce felo-de-se (audio)
-ˈsē
1
: a person who commits suicide or who dies from the effects of having committed an unlawful malicious act
2
: an act of deliberate self-destruction : suicide

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin felo de se, fello de se, literally, evildoer in respect to oneself

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of felo-de-se was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near felo-de-se

Cite this Entry

“Felo-de-se.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/felo-de-se. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

plural felones-de-se fə-ˌlō-(ˌ)nēz-də- How to pronounce felo-de-se (audio) or felos-de-se ˌfel-ōz-də- How to pronounce felo-de-se (audio)
1
: one who commits suicide or who dies from the effects of having committed an unlawful malicious act
2
: an act of deliberate self-destruction : suicide
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