Middle English Dictionary Entry

felonīe n.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
Treachery, betrayal; deceit, guile, craft; an act of treachery or craft.
2.
Villainy, wickedness, sin, crime; a villainous deed, a transgression, wrong, sin, crime.
3.
Law Crime against a feudal superior involving forfeiture of a fee; crime against the crown (such as murder, rape, or theft), of a class more serious than 'trespasses'.
4.
(a) Violent temper, ruthlessness; ill will, evil intention; ~ of herte; (b) a hostile accusation.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Remove spelling "velonie", found in Glo. Chron. B, quoted as B-variant to c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11) 1446: He biþoȝte him of felonie [B: one feloniȝe, on velonye]. This has been reinterpreted as a form of vileinie n. (ID MED51141).