Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Villainy?

\Vil"lain*y\, n.; pl. {Villainies}. [OE. vilanie, OF. vilanie, vilainie, vileinie, vilanie, LL. villania. See {Villain}, n.] [Written also {villany}.] 1. The quality or state of being a villain, or villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as, the villainy of the seducer. ``Lucre of vilanye.'' --Chaucer. The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy. --Shak. 2. Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk. [Archaic] He never yet not vileinye ne said In all his life, unto no manner wight. --Chaucer. In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment. --Barrow. Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds. --Trench. 3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime. Such villainies roused Horace into wrath. --Dryden. That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called a slave trade. --John Wesley.