felo-de-se

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

noun,plural fe·lo·nes-de-se [fel-uh-neez-di-see, -sey, fuh-loh-neez-], /ˈfɛl əˌniz dɪˈsi, -ˈseɪ, fəˈloʊ niz-/, fe·los-de-se [fel-ohz-di-see, -sey]. /ˈfɛl oʊz dɪˈsi, -ˈseɪ/.
  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.

Origin of felo-de-se

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from Anglo-Latin, equivalent to felō “a felon” + “in respect to, of” + “oneself”; see origin at felon1

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British Dictionary definitions for felo de se

felo de se

/ (ˈfiːləʊ dɪ ˈsiː, ˈfɛləʊ) /


nounplural felones de se (ˈfiːləʊˌniːz dɪ ˈsiː, ˈfɛl-) or felos de se
  1. law

    • suicide

    • a person who commits suicide

Origin of felo de se

1
C17: from Anglo-Latin, from felō felon + Latin of + oneself

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012