- villan
- Villain Vil"lain, n. [OE. vilein, F. vilain, LL. villanus,
from villa a village, L. villa a farm. See {Villa}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Feudal Law) One who holds lands by a base, or servile,
tenure, or in villenage; a feudal tenant of the lowest
class, a bondman or servant. [In this sense written also
{villan}, and {villein}.]
[1913 Webster]
If any of my ansectors was a tenant, and a servant, and held his lands as a villain to his lord, his posterity also must do so, though accidentally they become noble. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
Note: Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant, that is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti gleb[ae]); and villains in gross, that is, annexed to the person of their lord, and transferable from one to another. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
2. A baseborn or clownish person; a boor. [R.] [1913 Webster]
Pour the blood of the villain in one basin, and the blood of the gentleman in another, what difference shall there be proved? --Becon. [1913 Webster]
3. A vile, wicked person; a man extremely depraved, and capable or guilty of great crimes; a deliberate scoundrel; a knave; a rascal; a scamp. [1913 Webster]
Like a villain with a smiling cheek. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
