Verb using an ax to fell a tree He's strong enough to fell an ox. Adjective planning for the distribution of resources in case of some fell event war crimes committed by a fell and barbarous enemy
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German fel skin, Latin pellis
Verb
Middle English, from Old English fellan; akin to Old English feallan to fall — more at fall
Adjective
Middle English fel, from Anglo-French — more at felon
Noun
Middle English, from Old Norse fell, fjall mountain; akin to Old High German felis rock
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a