villainous
English
Etymology
From Middle English vileinous, from Old French vileneus; surface analysis villain + -ous.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈvɪlənəs/
Audio (Berkshire, UK) (file)
Adjective
villainous (comparative more villainous, superlative most villainous)
- Of, relating to, or appropriate to a villain.
- Wicked, offensive, or reprehensible in nature or behaviour; nefarious.
- 1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, OCLC 316392309, Act III:
- Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? / Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. / Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]
- 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney: Ure Smith, published 1965, page 9:
- Bah! to this toilet for the villainous boredom of church.
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Alternative forms
- villanous (obsolete)
Synonyms
- villainly
- villainy
Derived terms
- villainously
- villainousness
Translations
of, relating to, or appropriate to a villain
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