villain
NounWordNet 3.0
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Villain \Vil"lain\, v. t. To debase; to degrade. [Obs.] --Sir T. More. [1913 Webster]
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 glebae); 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]
Villain \Vil"lain\, a. [F. vilain.] Villainous. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]