Relating to or involving a serious crime called a felony; wicked or evil in character.
From felony (a serious crime), which comes from Old French felonie meaning 'wickedness.' The French word likely comes from Latin fel meaning 'gall' or 'bitterness,' symbolizing something evil.
In legal language, 'felonious' specifically means crimes serious enough to result in prison time—it's a word that separates misdemeanors from truly serious offenses.
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