felo-de-se

[ fel-oh-di-see, -sey ]

noun

, plural fe·lo·nes-de-se [fel, -, uh, -neez-di-, see, -, sey, f, uh, -, loh, -neez-], fe·los-de-se [fel, -ohz-di-, see, -, sey].

1. a person who intentionally takes their own life, or commits an unlawful malicious act resulting in their own death.
2. the act of suicide.

felo de se

/ ˈfɛləʊ; ˈfiːləʊ dɪ ˈsiː /

noun

1. law
   1. suicide
   2. a person who commits suicide

Word History and Origins

Origin of felo-de-se¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Anglo-Latin, equivalent to felō “a felon” + dē “in respect to, of” + sē “oneself”; felon ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of felo-de-se¹

C17: from Anglo-Latin, from felō felon + Latin dē of + sē oneself

Example Sentences

Or felo de se; for in a case of suicide the acquittal of the deceased by a coroner's jury entitles him to Christian burial.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course Mr. Wharton had employed counsel, and of course the counsel's object had been to avoid a verdict of felo de se.

From Project Gutenberg

Is it not monstrous, then, that men could be found so lost to honor as to record a verdict of felo de se?

From Project Gutenberg

Yet when the verdict of felo de se had been returned, there had been murmurs in Court, at once sharply checked by the coroner.

From Project Gutenberg

By such conduct—revealing a tendency to bad manners—she commits felo de se as regards—well—a certain object she has in view.

From Project Gutenberg