Miss Demeanor

A felony or misdemeanor.
These words are poorly understood.
One seems the opposite of meaner,
the other feels as if it should,
but if it was in fact its inverse,
then you might think the deed's indeed worse,
whereas the opposite is true,
depending on your point of view.
I will elucidate, as follows:
back when the French had ruled the day
to felonize meant to betray,
and thus go swinging from the gallows.
Betrayal's always of a kind.
The other crimes? We pay no mind.