villainy
NounSynonyms:
villainousness
Open English WordNet
Noun (2)villainies
- the quality of evil by virtue of villainous behaviorSynonyms: villainousnessType of evil, evilness
- a criminal or vicious actType of transgression, evildoing
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Vil′lain·y noun; pl. Villainies (#). [Written also villany.]
Origin: OE. vilanie, OF. vilanie, vilainie, vileinie, vilanie, LL. villania. See Villain, noun
1. The quality or state of being a villain, or villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as, the villainy of the seducer. “Lucre of vilanye.” Geoffrey Chaucer
The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy.— William 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.— Geoffrey Chaucer
In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment.— Isaac Barrow
Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds.— Abp. Richard Chenevix Trench
3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime.
Such villainies roused Horace into wrath.— John Dryden
That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called a slave trade.— John Wesley.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54