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Webster 1913 Edition


Villainy

Vil′lain-y

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Villainies
(#)
.
[OE.
vilanie
, OF.
vilanie
,
vilainie
,
vileinie
,
vilanie
, LL.
villania
. See
Villain
,
Noun.
]
[Written also
villany
.]
1.
The quality or state of being a villain, or villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness;
as, the
villainy
of the seducer
.
“Lucre of vilanye.”
Chaucer.
The commendation is not in his wit, but in his
villainy
.
Shakespeare
2.
Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk.
[Archaic]
He never yet not
vileinye
ne said
In all his life, unto no manner wight.
Chaucer.
In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed
villainy
, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment.
Barrow.
Villainy
till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds.
Trench.
3.
The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime.
Such
villainies
roused Horace into wrath.
Dryden.
That execrable sum of all
villainies
commonly called a slave trade.
John Wesley.

Webster 1828 Edition


Villainy

VIL'LAINY

,
Noun.
1.
Extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as the villany of the thief or the robber; the villany of the seducer.
The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villany.
2.
A crime; an action of deep depravity. In this sense, the word has a plural.
Such villanies roused Horace into wrath.

Definition 2024


villainy

villainy

English

Noun

villainy (plural villainies)

  1. Evil or vicious character or behaviour.
  2. A vicious or treacherous act.

Synonyms

  • See Wikisaurus:villainy