Felon

Noun

Definition: A person who has been convicted of a serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment or death.

Synonyms: Criminal, Offender, Convict

Antonyms: Law-abiding citizen, Innocent person

Examples:

The felon was sentenced to ten years in prison for armed robbery.
He was identified as a known felon and was prohibited from owning firearms.

Mnemonics:

Remember that a felon is someone who has committed a serious crime.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English, from Old French 'felon', from Latin 'fello', 'fellon-' (wicked), related to 'fel' (gall, bitterness).

Historical Usage:

The term 'felon' has been used in English since the 14th century to describe a person guilty of a heinous crime.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Once a felon, always a felon."

Explanation:

This phrase suggests that someone who has committed a serious crime is likely to commit another crime in the future.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Assuming that a felon is specifically someone guilty of murder.

Explanation:

While murder is a serious crime that can lead to a person being considered a felon, there are many other crimes that can result in felon status, such as robbery, rape, or fraud. The term 'felon' is not exclusively associated with murder.