Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

villeinmore about villein

villein

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Villein  \Vil"lein\,  n.  (Feudal  Law) 
  See  {Villain},  1. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Villain  \Vil"lain\,  n.  [OE.  vilein,  F.  vilain,  LL  villanus, 
  from  villa  a  village,  L.  villa  a  farm.  See  {Villa}.] 
  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. 
 
  Note:  Villains  were  of  two  sorts;  villains  regardant,  that 
  is  annexed  to  the  manor  (LL.  adscripti  gleb[ae]);  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  villein 
  n  :  (medieval  Europe)  a  person  who  is  bound  to  the  land  and 
  owned  by  the  feudal  lord  [syn:  {serf},  {helot}]




more about villein