felon
UK: ˈfɛlən | US: ˈfɛlən
n. a person who has committed a serious crime
n. (archaic) a wicked or cruel person
adj. (obsolete) wicked; cruel
felon = fel<evil> + on<noun suffix>
- fel (from Old French fel, meaning "evil" or "wicked," derived from Latin fello, "villain")
- on (a noun-forming suffix, often indicating a person associated with the root)
Etymology Origin:
The word felon traces back to Old French felon, meaning "wicked" or "traitorous," which itself stems from Latin fello (a term for a villain or deceiver). Over time, the meaning narrowed to specifically denote someone guilty of a serious crime. The suffix -on reinforces the noun form, emphasizing the person’s association with evil or wrongdoing. The word’s evolution reflects societal shifts in labeling criminal behavior.
The convicted felon was sentenced to ten years in prison.
In medieval times, a felon might lose a hand as punishment.
The judge showed no mercy to the repeat felon.
Historically, branding marked a felon for life.
The term "felon" carries a heavy stigma in modern society.