vilain

peasant, commoner, churl

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A robber threatens an older woman with a knife while wrenching her handbag away; her recoiling posture and his coercive action make the criminal wickedness visible.

adjective

villainous

VIL-uh-nus/ˈvɪlənəs/

Morally wicked or evil.

Etymology

villainOld Frenchpeasant, commoner, churl

+ousOld Frenchcharacterized by

“Peasant” became an insult for someone low-born or ill-mannered, then a label for a wicked person. The adjective describes conduct or character fitting that moralized insult.

Full entry

Related word entries

villainous
villainy