villain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
    scoundrel.
  2. noun the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction
    baddie.

WordNet


Vil"lain noun
Etymology
OE. vilein, F. vilain, LL. villanus, from villa a village, L. villa a farm. See Villa.
Definitions
  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.
    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.
    Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant, that is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti glebæ); and villains in gross, that is, annexed to the person of their lord, and transferable from one to another. Blackstone.
  2. A baseborn or clownish person; a boor. R.
    Pour the blood of the villain in one basin, and the blood of the gentleman in another, what difference shall there be proved? Becon.
  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.
    Like a villain with a smiling cheek. Shak.
    Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix. Pope.
Vil"lain adjective
Etymology
F. vilain.
Definitions
  1. Villainous. R. Shak.
Vil"lain transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To debase; to degrade. Obs. Sir T. More.

Webster 1913