Category:Villainy

Vil"lain*y, n.; pl. Villainies. Etym: [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.