villainy

American  

[vil-uh-nee] / ˈvɪl ə ni /

noun

plural

villainies

1. the actions or conduct of a villain; outrageous wickedness.

2. a villainous act or deed.

3. Obsolete. villeinage.

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villainy British  

/ ˈvɪlənɪ /

noun

1. conduct befitting a villain; vicious behaviour or action

2. an evil, abhorrent, or criminal act or deed

3. the fact or condition of being villainous

4. English history a rare word for villeinage

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Etymology

Origin of villainy

1175–1225; Middle English vile ( i ) nie, vilainie < Old French. See villain, -y ³

Example Sentences

The scenes are the stuff of nightmares, and even villainy.

From Los Angeles Times

Red herrings pop up and disappear, a climactic series of revelations indicates hidden villainy, and every detail feels ho-hum.

From The Wall Street Journal

His thesis is that Shakespeare early in his playwriting career followed the prevailing models of villainy.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, “Welcome to Derry” allows the place’s homegrown villainy to speak for itself.

From Salon

Bower had essentially made a shrine to villainy.

From Los Angeles Times