† ˈvillains, a. Obs.
Forms: α. 4 vyleyn(y)s, vileins, 4–5 vileyns (5 vileynes-); 4 vilains-, 4–5 velaynes-, 5 vilayn(e)s-, vylayn(e)s, vyllayns, villaynis. β. 4–5 vylens, vilens (5 vyl-, vilenis, vylence, velens-); 4–5 vilans (5 velans, vilance-), 5–6 vylans, Sc. welan(y)s, willans, 6 villanes; 5 uelonis, vilonis-, vilonys-, vyloyns-.
[a. OF. vileins, vilains (nom. sing. masc.):—pop.L. *villānus: see villain n. and a.]
= villain a., villainous a. a. Of actions, speech, etc.
| α 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1555 Many tyme a vyleynys [v.r. vylens] wurde Gadryþ foule þouþ to hurde. Ibid. 1847 For þat yche vyleyns synne, Ys here body partyd a-twynne. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶46 (Camb. MS.), He dede neuere synne ne neuere cam there a vileyns word out of his mouth. c 1450 Merlin ii. 26 Thow..haste putte oure frendes to so vileyns deth. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 116 Quha ever strykis with wappin or othir villaynis manȝe. 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. iii. (1883) 97 For a man ought not to demande ner doo to be doon to his frende no vyllayns thynge that ought to be kept secrete. |
| β c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4412 Bot other þat wille noght do his rede Sal be done to vilans dede. a 1400–50 Alexander 4164 He..Come to a velans vale þare was a vile cheele. c 1400 Destr. Troy 527 Voidis me noght of vitius, ne vilans of tunge. c 1440 Alph. Tales 236 And at þe laste he sulde hafe a vylans dead. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 25 With gret uelonis wordes, dispraising hym. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 122 He said vilens wordis ageyn the Seint. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xxxiv. 48 He that dyde otherwyse, shulde be reputed as an euyll doer, and for a vylans dede. |
b. Of persons.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 28 Rome..laste so Long time amonges the Romeins Til thei become so vileins [etc.]. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 104 Man ys hardy as a lyon,..vyleyns and boystous as asse, rebell as a rambe. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 3800 A cowarde and of no renoun, And vileyns of condicion. c 1450 Merlin vi. 102 Yef he be fool, or fell, or vilenis, ye owe better to suffre hym than eny other. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. xxii. 450 He is the moost coward and the vylaynst kyng and knyght that is now lyuyng. 1556 Olde Antichrist 92 Their regestres were neuer ful ynough of such myscheuous villanes popes. |