a person who intentionally takes their own life, or commits an unlawful malicious act resulting in their own death.
the act of suicide.
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. )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
After such a piece of spiritual felo-de-se, the man is nothing but one wheel in a machine, or even but one cog upon a wheel.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 12, October, 1858 by Various
Further, a jury can seldom be induced to bring in a verdict of felo-de-se.
From Regeneration by Haggard, Henry Rider
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
If this opinion be sound, then indeed is our Constitution a complete felo de se.
From The Spirit of American Government A Study Of The Constitution: Its Origin, Influence And Relation To Democracy by Smith, J. Allen (James Allen)
The next day a coroner's inquest was held, and returned a verdict of felo de se.
From The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852 by Various
A Prerogative that tendeth to the Dissolution of all Laws must be void in itself, felo de se; for a Prerogative is a Law.
From A Character of King Charles the Second by Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of
Whether, if the legislature destroyed the public, it would not be felo de se; and whether it be reasonable to suppose it bent on its own destruction?
From Querist by Berkeley, George
At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of felo de se, and the Coroner gave a warrant for the interment of the body between the hours of nine and twelve o’clock.
From Norfolk Annals A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 2 by Mackie, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
