The Collaborative International Dictionary
Villainy \Vil"lain*y\, n.; pl. Villainies. [OE. vilanie, OF. vilanie, vilainie, vileinie, vilanie, LL. villania. See Villain, n.] [Written also villany.]
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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. -
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. -
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.
Wiktionary
n. (plural of villainy English)
Usage examples of "villainies".
Of young Gile's physical well being and inexhaustible energy there could be little question, but Hugh did sometimes express doubts about his moral inclinations, and like most fathers, detailed his son's ingenious villainies with respect and pride.
Of young Gile’s physical well being and inexhaustible energy there could be little question, but Hugh did sometimes express doubts about his moral inclinations, and like most fathers, detailed his son’s ingenious villainies with respect and pride.
As to the sailors, he was sure that the jungle would exact from them expiation for their villainies, nor, doubtless, was he wrong, for his were the last white man's eyes to rest upon any of them.
The remaining members of the crew, safe in Lord Greystoke's assurance that they would not be prosecuted for their share in the villainies of the two Russians, hastened with cheerful alacrity to their several duties.
The thought of holding innocent children as hostages could only have originated in minds attuned to the villainies of devils.