Vil"lain , v. t. To debase; to degrade. [Obs.]
Sir
T. More.
Vil"lain , a. [F. vilain.]
Villainous. [R.]
Shak.
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. &fist; 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.
Hear it pronounced