felon1 (felon)

and a. [Formerly also fel lon; σφάλλειν, cause to fall, etc.: see fell, faill.] I. n. 1t. A wicked person; a cruel, fierce person; one guilty of heinous crimes. Thag (though] the feloun [Lucifer] were so fers for his fayre wedez And his glorious glem [gleam]. acter of being felonious. felonlyt (fel'on-li), adv. [ME., also felonliche; felon1, a., + -ly2.] Wickedly; feloniously. Yf he be fer ther-fro ful ofte hath he drede That fals folke fecche away felonliche hus godes. Piers Plowman (C), xiii. 238. felonoust (fel'on-us), a . [Formerly also fell on ous ; felonous , felonos , felenos , felo neus , wicked, cruel, felon , felon: see felon1 and-ous.] Wicked; felonious. Thei ben righte felonouse and foule, and of cursed kynde. Mandeville, Travels, p. 65. With fellonous despight And fell intent. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 65. Ther is a feloun thet heth the tonge more keruinde thanne Ayenbite of Inwit (E. E. T. 8.), p. 66. rasour. 2. In law, a person who has committed a felony. The term is not applicable after legal punishment has been completed. I do defy thy conjurations, And apprehend thee for a felon here. Shak ., R. and J., v. 3. + -ly2.] Wickedly; traitorously. Thei of the rounde table hem ledde felonously in the Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 490. werse maner. IMG:content-1201.png:[blocks in formation] 3t. Felony. Arnold's Chron., p. 34. =Syn. 2. Criminal, convict, malefactor, culprit, outlaw. II. a. 1. Wicked; malignant; malicious; treacherous; proceeding from a depraved heart. Furst my lord was brouzt to dede, Thorw the felun iewes rede, And now my lad i wil me fro. Swete lord, now me is woe. King Horn (E. E. T. S.), p. 83. There was mortall and felon bataile and grete occision on bot he parties. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 275. Pope . Vain shows of love to vail his felon hate. 2. Obtained by felony or crime; of goods, stolen. Thus he that conquer'd men, and beast most cruell (Whose greedy pawes with fell on goods were found), Answer'd Goliah's challenge in a duell. Fuller , David's Heinous Sin, st. 19. IMG:content-1202.png:[blocks in formation]