villainy
villainy Lexical Profile
villainy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Wicked, depraved, or criminal behavior and character.
"The novel explores the depths of human villainy through the calculated schemes of its main antagonist."
A wicked, treacherous, or criminal act or offense (often used in the plural).
"The historical chronicle detailed the countless villainies committed by the corrupt magistrate during his term in office."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'villainy' (wickedness or criminal behavior) with the historical spelling 'villeinage' or 'villenage', which refers specifically to the medieval feudal tenure or status of a serf.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'vilanie', derived from 'vilain' (peasant or serf) and ultimately Late Latin 'villanus' (farmhand on a Roman villa); the word's shift from denoting low social status to moral wickedness reflects the aristocratic bias of medieval society.