feloniousadj.
/fᵻˈləʊnɪəs/, /fɛˈləʊnɪəs/, U.S. /fəˈloʊniəs/, /fɛˈloʊniəs/ 1. Wicked, atrociously criminal. Cf. felon adj., felonous adj. Now chiefly poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > [adjective]
awlyc1200
grievousa1300
grilla1300
uglya1300
strongc1300
outrageousa1325
heinousc1374
excessive1393
curseda1400
fella1400
misshapenc1400
rankc1400
monstruousc1425
enorm1481
prodigiousc1487
villainous1489
nefand1490
sceleratea1513
monstrous1531
funestal1538
enormious1545
facinorous1548
flagitious1550
dire1567
bonable1575
felonious1575
bomination1589
unvenial?1589
heathenish1592
enormous1593
villainous1598
nameless1611
pitchy1612
funest1636
funestous1641
scarleta1643
nefandous1649
aversable1663
atrocious1669
frightful1700
flagrant1706
atrocea1734
diabolical1750
unspeakable1831
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > extremely wicked
deepOE
blackOE
outrageousa1325
heinousc1374
flagitiousc1384
excessive1393
rankc1400
enorm1481
prodigiousc1487
villainous1489
terriblec1510
sceleratea1513
monstrous1531
enormious1545
facinorous1548
monstruous1562
felonious1575
enormous1593
facinoriousa1616
rounda1638
scarlet1710
facinerose1727
atrocious1772
outraging1895
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle iii. iii. sig. Ciiii Dyccons deuill..Of Cat, and Chat, and Doctor Rat: a felloneus tale did tell.
1599 Warning for Faire Women ii. 1206 How sayest thou to these fellonious murders, art thou guilty or not guilty?
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 12 The wicked rable..committed such fellonious outrages, as [etc.].
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iii. i. 129 Vnlesse it were a bloody Murtherer, Or foule felonious [1594 felonous] Theefe. View more context for this quotation
1651 Sir H. Wotton in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 254 (note) That felonious conception.
c1750 W. Shenstone Elegies vii. 63 Does not felonious Envy bar the road?
1827 R. Pollok Course of Time II. ix. 204 With most felonious aim.
2.
a. Law. Of or pertaining to felony; of the nature of felony. Hence, in popular language of an act or purpose: Thievish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > [adjective] > stealing or inclined to
bribering?1529
picking1535
thievish1538
prigging1567
felonous1570
thieving1598
Hungarian1608
theftuous1632
felonious1637
predacious1665
furacious1676
priggish1699
furtive1816
kleptic1865
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [adjective] > types of crime generally > felony
felonous1570
felonious1637
1637 J. Milton Comus 8 Ô theevish Night Why shouldst thou, but for some fellonious end In thy darke lanterne thus close up the Stars.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 188 Felonious homicide..the killing of a human creature..without justification or excuse.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 227 Such breaking and entry must be with a felonious intent.
c1780 T. Erskine Speech for Ld. G. Gordon in Speeches (1810) I. 82 A felonious riot.
1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 14 An act was passed..making them felonious.
1869 Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Oct. 7 Condemning the appropriation of tenants' improvements as ‘felonious’.
b. Of a person: That has committed felony.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [adjective] > types of crime generally > felony > that has committed a felony
felonious1857
1857 Sat. Rev. 3 271/2 He sees no longer the respectable..Mr. Redpath, but only the felonious clerk.
Derivatives
feˈloniousness n. the quality or state of being felonious.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a crime > felony > quality
feloniousness1886
1727 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 6 Aug. 4/1 A young man..does not forge a cheque for a paltry £20 in a mere access of playful feloniousness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1575