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Today it means

felony

a serious crime, typically one punishable by a lengthy prison sentence

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Where does the word "felony" come from? It comes from Anglo-French fellonia, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

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Where does the word "felony" come from? It comes from Anglo-French fellonia, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Felony’s story begins in Anglo-French: fellonia meant “wickedness, a serious crime.” Wickedness, a serious crime, possibly related to a word for a traitor. It reached English by 1300s as felony. Settled as the English word for a serious criminal offense. Today, felony means a serious crime, typically one punishable by a lengthy prison sentence.

  1. Stage 1 · Anglo-French · medieval fellonia "wickedness, a serious crime", wickedness, a serious crime, possibly related to a word for a traitor.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s felony "a serious criminal offense", settled as the English word for a serious criminal offense.

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