villa 
BOIlir si/.c ami ]il'i'1i'HMon. though ! Ill' liailli'is 
commonly misapplied, c'spiM-iiilly in ' in .-it liril 
;iin. to a i'otla<; , ill' In HIM- of till' class nl' clirap 
houses liiull mi specula! inn in tin' siilmrbs of a 
cit y : in "hi /;,/. l/in\ a manor. 
A ci'itiiini- i;> Mtii-iiiiiii called Bantiiu . . . lived at a 
Villa that tie hail In the e..uuti-y. 
Cnriiiil, Clllilitk'B, I. 170. 
villadoni (vil'a-ilnm), n. [< rillit + -</<<.] 
Villas riilli'i'tivi'ly ; hcm'i-, the persons living in 
them. [Karo.] 
1'Ulnilnin (if tin' suburb* votes for the liitfniiil divisions 
of l/mdon, iind itgain in Ihr siiliurli;in Imroughs. 
r'urtni'/litiil I!,',:, N. ., XL. 264. 
Village (vil'a.ji. a. ami a. |< MK. nllinj, . < OF. 
(anil I 1 '.) rilliii/r = Sp. i'i//ii/i- = Pg. vil 
= II. rillinifiin. a village, liamli't,, < L. ril 
belonging in a villa or farm-house, < rillii, a 
ciiuntry house, a farm: see rill. Cf. villatic.'] 
1. a. 1. A small assemblage "' houses, less 
than a town nr city, and larger than a ham- 
let. In many of the United States the incorporated vil- 
lage exists as the least populous kind of corporate muni- 
cipality. Its boundaries are usually not identical with 
those of any primary division of the county, but include 
only the space occupied by houses adjoining or nearly ad- 
joining. 
The same dayc wo passyd Pauya, and lay y' nyght at 
Selnt Jacobo, a vytlaye. 
Sir R. Quylfardt, Pylgrymage, p. 5. 
A walled town Is more worthier than a village. 
Shak., As you Like it, III. 3. 60. 
I resolved to go forward until I could discover some 
house or milage. Swift, Gulliver's Travels, iv. 1. 
2. In law, sometimes a manor; sometimes a 
whole parish or subdivision of it; most com- 
monly an outpart of a parish, consisting of a few 
houses separate from the rest, Prairie-dog vil- 
lage. See prairie-dog. =Syn. 1. Hamlet, etc. See town. 
II. a. Of, pertaining to, or belonging to a vil- 
lage; characteristic of a village; hence, rustic ; 
countrified. 
The early village cock 
Hath twice done salutation to the morn. 
Skak., Rich. III., v. 3. 209. 
Some village Hampden, that, with dauntless breast, 
The little tyrant of his fields withstood. Qray, Elegy. 
Village cart. See cart. Village community. See 
community. See also manor, villeinage. For the village 
community in Russia, see mir. Village mark. See 
inarArl, 14. 
village-moot (vil'aj-mot), n. In early Eng. 
hist., the assembly of the men of a village. See 
moot 1 . 
Villager (vil'aj-er), n. [< village + -cr 1 .] An 
inhabitant of a village. 
Brutus had rather be a villager 
Than to repute himself a son of Home 
Under these hard conditions. 
Sha*., J. C., 1. 2. 172. 
villageryt (vil'aj-ri), . [< tillage + -(c)ry.~) A 
group ot villages. 
The maidens of the villagery. Shalt,, M. N. D., II. 1. 36. 
villain (vil'an), n. and a. [Also archaically, in 
legal and historical use, villein; formerly some- 
times villan, early mod. E. vilayn, etc.; < ME. 
vilain, vilein, vilei/n, also sometimes rilains, vil- 
ans, vileyns, < OF. rilein, vilain, villain, villein, 
nom. also vilains, vilains, F. vilain, a farm-ser- 
vant, serf, peasant, clown, scoundrel, also adj. 
base, mean, wicked, = Pr. vilan, vilti = Sp. vil- 
liino = Pg. v'MHo = It. villano, (. ML. rillaiius, a 
farm-servant, serf, clown, < L. villa, a farm: 
see rill. The forms villain, villein, etc., are his- 
torically one, and the attempt to differentiate 
them in meaning is idle.] I. n. 1. A member 
of the lowest class of unfree persons during the 
prevalence of the feudal system ; a feudal serf. 
In respect to their lords or ow'ners the villains had no 
rights, except that the lord might not kill or maim them, 
or ravish the females ; tiiey could acquire or hold no prop- 
erty against their lord's will ; they were obliged to per- 
form all the menial services he demanded : and the cot- 
tages and plots of land they occupied were held merely at 
his will. In respect, however, of other persons besides 
their lord they htul the righto and privileges of freemen. 
Villains were either regardant (wnich see) or in grou. 
They were in view of the law annexed to the soil (adtrripK 
or aducriptitii glebfe), belonging to a manor as fixtures, 
passing with it when it was conveyed or Inherited, and 
they could not be sold or transferred as persons separate 
from the land. The latter belonged personally to their 
lord, who could sell or transfer them at will. 
Mlain > by my blood, 
I am as free-born as your Venice duke ! 
Middleton, Blurt, Master-Constable, II. 1. 
The viUriiix owe to the lord all sorts of dues and services. 
Ei'r-oii.'il labiiiir. iiinong others, on the lands which form 
is domain ; they may not leave the M:inor without his 
permission : no one of thrni e;ui succeed to the laud of 
another without his assent : nnd the legal theory even is 
that the movable property of the villein belongs to tin- 
lord. Vet it may confidently be laid down that, in the 
light of modern research, none ol these disadvantages 
6765 
prove an absolutely servile status, and that all may ) t 
plllllie, I |t|,, to it 
W.i,,.., 1 .ill} I aw incl i 
The villain was* not a slave, but a freeman minus the 
very Important rights of his lord. 
K. A. freeman, Norman Conquest, V. S20. 
Hence 2. An ignoble or base-born person 
generally; a boor, peasant, or down. 
Pour the blood of the villain In onctia*ln,andthcblood 
of the gentleman in another, what difference Khali here 
be proved? /:' I 
May. Where is your mistress, villain f when went she 
abroad ? 
I'f' n. Abroad, sir ! why, as muni as she was up, sir. 
DeUerand Webtter, Northward II.., i. :i. 
3. A man of ignoble or base character; es- 
pecially, one who is guilty or capable of gross 
wickedness ; a scoundrel ; a knave ; a rascal ; 
a rogue: often used humorously in affectionate 
or jocose reproach. 
One may smile, and smile, and be a villain. 
Shalr., Hamlet, I. 5. 108. 
This ring Is mine : he was a villain 
That stole it from my hand ; he was a villain 
That put it into yours. 
Uekker and Webster, Northward Ho, L 3. 
II. a. 1. Of or pertaining to, or consisting of, 
villains or serfs. 
The villein class, notwithstanding legal and canonical 
hindrances, aspired to holy orders as one of the avenues 
to liberty. Slubbs, Const. Hist., | 405. 
2. Characteristic of or befitting a villain or 
slave; servile; base; villainous. 
For thon art the moste vilryn knyght that euer I mette 
In my llf. Merlin (E. E. T. &), lit WO. 
I lie happe haue he, that vylenis [read vylt insl} knyght, 
that ii-ketti eny tribute of eny trauellynge knvghti -. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.X p. 127. 
Vileyns sinful dedes make a cherl. 
Chaucer, Wife of Bath's Tale, 1. 3O2. 
Villain bonds and despot sway. Byron, Giaour. 
Villein services, in feudal laic, base or menial services 
performed in consideration of the tenure of land. 
The records of villein services will be jealously scanned 
In the present state of the controversy on the question of 
the village community. Athenaum, No. 3141, p. 11. 
Villein aocage. See tocage. 
villaint (vil'an), v. t. [Early mod. E. also vil- 
ayn; < villain, n.] To debase; degrade; vil- 
lainize. 
When they haue once vilayned the sacrament of matri- 
monye. Sir T. More, Works, p. 344. 
villainage (vil'an-aj), . [< villain + -age. Cf. 
villeinage.] The condition of a villain or peas- 
ant. 
While the churl sank to the state of villainage, the slave 
rose to it. E. A. Freeman, Norman Conquest, V. 322. 
villainizet (vil'an-iz), r. t. [Also villanize; < 
villain + -ize.] 'To debase; degrade; defame; 
revile; calumniate. 
Were virtue by descent, a noble name 
Could never vtllanize his father's fame. 
Dryden, Wife of Bath's Tale, 1. 405. 
villainizert ( vil'an-I-zer), n. [Also villanizer; < 
rillaiuize + -erl.J One who villaini/.es. 
villainlyt, adv. [ME. vileynsly ; < villain + -ty 2 .] 
Wretchedly; wickedly; villainously. 
And there was oure Lord first scourged; for he was 
scourged and vileynily entreted in many places. 
ManderOle, Travels, p. 95. 
villainous (vil'an-us), . [Also filiations, and 
archaically villenous; (villain + -ous.~\ 1. Per- 
taining to, befitting, or having the character of 
a villain, in any sense; especially, very wicked 
or depraved; extremely vile. 
One that hath spoke most nllanov* speeches of the duke. 
Shot., M. for M., v. L 265. 
2. Proceeding from extreme wickedness or de- 
pravity: as, a villainous action. 3. Of things, 
very bad; dreadful; mean; vile; wretched. 
This rillaiunis salt-petre should be digg'd 
Out of the bowels of the harmless earth. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., 1. 3. 00, 
A many of these fears 
Would put me Into some villainous disease, 
Should they come thick upon me. 
B. Jonton, Volpone, T. 1. 
Villanmu, spiteful luck ! Ill hold my life some of these 
saucy drawers betrayed htm. 
Dekker and Webster, Northward Ho, I. 2. 
Villainous judgment, in <4d Eng. lav. a judgment which 
deprived one ofnis lex libera, which discredited and dis- 
abled him as a juror or witness, forfeited his goods and 
chattels and lands for life, wasted the lands, razed the 
houses, rooted up the trees, and committed his body to 
prison. Wharton. = 8yn. Kxecrable, Abominable, etc. See 
nefarious. 
villainOUSt (vil'an-us), adr. [< villainous, a.] 
In a vile manner or way; villainously. 
With foreheads villainous low. 
SAo*., Tempest, Iv. 1. 150. 
villanette 
villainously ( vil'an-us-li). mil'. Ill 11 villainous 
inaniifr. in any M-HS*-. ,\!MI ' itliiiuiii*lij. 
The streets arc i vUlniiuni*l>i narrow that there Is not 
I'M. in |n all Paris to tuin a h, M.arrow. 
si.mr, Tristram Shandy, til. 17. 
villainousnessi vir i. Tin- Mate or 
cliarai't.'i' of hi-in^ villainous; baseness; ex- 
li'i'inr dcpriivit v ; vilcncss. 
Villainy (vil'an'-i), .; j.l. nV/iHi>*(-iz). [Also 
nlliiiiy; < Mft. "rilln, . iillinni. nl- 
iiii,,.. nl,,, nr, i-ili i/ni/,'. nliiHi/r, rili.nyr, rylimy, 
ryliii-i/, ri'lnny,< OK. rilmiiii'. Vila 
nie, of a farm -servant, = Sp. , illmnn = 1'g- It- 
nlltiiii'i. < ML. rilliniin, the conilition of alarm- 
servant, villainy, < villimuit, a farm-servant, 
villain: MT rilltiin. The proper ptymologii-al 
spelling is rilliiny, the form rilltiiinj. with th- 
correspiiiiding forms in ME. and OF. (with 
diphthong ai or ci), Ix-ing erroneously con- 
formed to the noun r/llnm. in wliieli the ilipli- 
tliong has a historical basis.] If. The condi- 
tion of a villain or serf; rusticity. 
The entertainment we have had of him 
Is far from villany or servitude. 
Marlmre, Tamburlalne, I., III. 2. 
2. The character of being villainous; the quali- 
ties characteristic of a villain ; extreme de- 
pravity ; atrocious wickedness. 
Coned worth cowarddyse A couetyse bothe ! 
In yow Is vulany it vyse, that vertue dlsstnez. 
Sir Gamtyne and (Ac Green KniyHt (E. E. T. &X 1. B75. 
Fear not the frowne of grim authority, 
Or stab of truth-abhorring fillani*. 
Time*' WhMe (E. E. T. 8,), p. 2. 
3f. Discourteous or abusive language ; oppro- 
brious terms. 
He nevere yet no vileinye ne smyde 
In al his lyf unto no maner wight. 
Chaucer, Oen. ProL to C. T., 1. 70. 
Therfore he wolde not that the! sholde speke eny euell 
of hym ne eilimye. Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), ill. 643. 
4. A villainous act; a crime. 
For, Ood It woot, men may we! often fynde 
A lordes (one do shame and viieynye. 
Chaucer, Wife of Bath's Tale, I. 296. 
If I WIT flier without I had the mor sadder or wurchep- 
full persones alraught me, and ther comyn a meny of 
knavys, and prevaylled In ther entent, it shuld be to me 
but a vylney. Potion Lettrrt, II. SOB. 
Caesar's splendid villany achieved Its most signal tri- 
umph. Macaulay, Machiavelll. 
A private stage 
For training Infant villaniet. Brooming, Straflord. 
5f. Disgraceful conduct; conduct unbecoming 
a gentleman. 
If we hennes bye 
Thus sodeynly, I holde it rilenye. 
Chaueer, Trollns, T. 490. 
Agravaln, brother, where be ye, now lete se what ye 
do, (Tor I peyne me for these ladyea sake for curtesie, and 
ye pej ne yow for theire cttonyes. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ill. 530. 
= 8yn. 2. Baseness, turpitude, atrocity, Infamy. See ne- 
AwipiM 
Villakin (vil'il-kin), n. [< villa + -JWn.] 1. A 
little villa. 
I am every day building mllakini, and have given over 
that of castles. Gay, To Swift, March 31, 1730. (Latham.) 
2. A little village. 
villant, M. An obsolete spelling of villain. 
villanage, . See villeinage. 
villancico (ve-lyan-the'ko), . [Sp., a rustic 
song, < villano, of the country, rustic: see ci/- 
liiin.] A kind of song, akin to the madrigal, 
popular in Spain in the fifteenth century, con- 
sisting of seven-lined stanzas. The melodies to 
which such songs were sung were often taken as the themes 
of contrapuntal music, and hence certain motets are still 
called rillancKot. 
villanella (vil-a-nel'a), n. [It. villanella, < vil- 
lano, rustic: see villain.} An Italian rustic part- 
song without accompaniment, the precursor of 
the more refined and artistic canzonetta and 
madrigal. It was not supposed to be amenable 
to the strict rules of composition. Also rillotte. 
villanelle (vil-a-nel'), . [F., < It. rillanella: 
see villanella.} " A poem in a fixed form bor- 
rowed from the French, and allied to the virelay. 
It consists of nineteen lines on two rimes, arranged In six 
stanzas, the first five of three lines, the last of four. The 
first and third line of the first stanza are repeated alter- 
nately as last lines from the second to the fifth stanza, and 
they conclude the sixth stanza. Great skill is required to 
Introduce them naturally. The typical example of the 
villanelle Is one by Jean Passerat (1534-1002), beginning 
"J'ai perdu ma tourtourelle." 
Who ever heard true Orlef relate 
Its heartfelt Woes In "six" and "eight"? 
Or felt his manly Bosom swell 
Within a French made ViUaneUet A. Dooton. 
Villanette (vil-a-nef), N. [< 7/ + -H- + -<.] 
A small villa or residence. 
