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• felo-de-se
  felo-de-se

  noun

  a person who intentionally takes their own life, or commits an unlawful malicious act resulting in their own death.
• felo de se
  felo de se

  noun

  law

felo-de-se

American  

[fel-oh-di-see, -sey] / ˈfɛl oʊ dɪˈsi, -ˈseɪ /

noun

felones-de-se, plural felos-de-se plural

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.

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felo de se British  

/ ˈfiːləʊ dɪ ˈsiː, ˈfɛləʊ /

noun

1. law

   1. suicide

   2. a person who commits suicide

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Etymology

Origin of felo-de-se

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

Example Sentences

To Jack for a melius inquirendum upon a felo-de-se..

From History of John Bull by Arbuthnot, John

It would be reckoned a gross breach of good manners to scandalize the refined and liberal administration of the Kursaal by undisguised felo-de-se.

From The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims Volume I (of II) by Steinmetz, Andrew

Further, a jury can seldom be induced to bring in a verdict of felo-de-se.

From Regeneration by Haggard, Henry Rider

A full account of Wakley’s parliamentary ratting, or political felo-de-se; beautifully authenticated by his late Finsbury electors—with sundry cuts by his former friends.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, November 13, 1841 by Various

The coroner's verdict being felo-de-se, the body was not taken into the chapel, but a clergyman met it at the gate and led the way to the grave.

From The Christian A Story by Caine, Hall, Sir