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villainess

[ vil-uh-nis ]

/ ˈvɪl ə nɪs /

noun

a villainous woman.

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Question 1 of 9

You may have read the word "simmer" in a recipe or two, but what does it really mean?

To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil.

To stew in a sauce for a long time.

To cook in water, just below boiling temperature.

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Origin of villainess

First recorded in 1580–90; villain + -ess

usage note for villainess

See -ess.

Words nearby villainess

villagization, Villahermosa, villa home, villain, villainage, villainess, villainize, villainous, villainy, Villa-Lobos, villanella

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for villainess

Jackson was cast as the villainess—the “mastermind” of this whole bloated controversy.
Super Bowl’s ‘Nipplegate’ Fiasco 10 Years Later: The Pop Diva, the Boob, and the Outrage|Marlow Stern|February 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus we took up our parts of (alleged) villain and villainess.
The Heather-Moon|C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
And the heart-beats were not calmed, for Marise recognised the contralto tones of Miss Marks, the villainess of her dream.
Vision House|C. N. Williamson
Of course these matters may be important—if the lady is the villainess, for instance.
The Lure of the Pen|Flora Klickmann

If the villainess were a blonde, the gallery would take her for the heroine, and things would get terribly mixed.
Her Royal Highness Woman|Max O'Rell
She told him he was making a villainess out of her, and that she'd end their meetings.
The Precipice|Elia Wilkinson Peattie

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