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villainiesmore about villainies

villainies

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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.




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