Law Dictionary Definitions

felonious (f<<schwa>>-loh-nee-<<schwa>>s), adj.1. Of, relating to, or involving a felony. 2. Constituting or having the character of a felony. 3. Proceeding from an evil heart or purpose; malicious; villainous. 4. Wrongful; (of an act) done without excuse or color of right.[Blacks Law 8th]

felonia (f<<schwa>>-loh-nee-<<schwa>>). [Latin “felony”] Hist. An offense that results in a vassal’s forfeiting his fee. “The attempt to derive felonia from fel ‘poison’ is merely a folk etymology which came into vogue when ‘felony’ meant a serious crime, and differed from treason. The word was well established in Feudal Law as the characteristic offense against…

felon-de-se. See SUICIDE(2).[Blacks Law 8th]

felon,n. A person who has been convicted of a felony. — Also termed (redundantly) convicted felon.[Blacks Law 8th]

felo-de-se (fee-loh orfel-oh dee see), n. See SUICIDE(2). “ ‘Felo de se,’ or felon of himself is freely spoken of by the early writers as self-murder. Hence one who killed himself before he arrived at the age of discretion or while he was non compos mentis, was not a felo de se, or suicide…. [B]y…

fellow-servant rule.A common-law doctrine holding that an employer is not liable for an employee’s injuries caused by a negligent coworker. • This doctrine has generally been abrogated by workers’-compensation statutes. In some jurisdictions, employees were considered fellow servants when they were working with one aim or result in view. In others, the relation of fellow…

fellow servant.A coworker having the same employer; esp., an employee who is so closely related to another employee’s work that there is a special risk of harm if either one is negligent. See FELLOW-SERVANT RULE; DIFFERENT-DEPARTMENT RULE E. superior fellow servant.A worker that has the power of control or direction over a coworker. — Also…

fellow-officer rule.Criminal procedure. The principle that an investigative stop or an arrest is valid even if the law-enforcement officer lacks personal knowledge to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause as long as the officer is acting on the knowledge of another officer and the collective knowledge of the law-enforcement office. — Also termed Whiteley rule.…

fellow,n.1. One joined with another in some legal status or relation. 2. A member of a college, board, corporate body, or other organization.[Blacks Law 8th]

fele (feel). [Law French] See FEAL.[Blacks Law 8th]