vil·lain /ˈvɪlən/
壞人,惡根
Vil·lain n.
1. Feudal Law One who holds lands by a base, or servile, tenure, or in villenage; a feudal tenant of the lowest class, a bondman or servant. [In this sense written also villan, and villein.]
If any of my ansectors was a tenant, and a servant, and held his lands as a villain to his lord, his posterity also must do so, though accidentally they become noble. --Jer. Taylor.
Note: ☞ Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant, that is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti glebae); and villains in gross, that is, annexed to the person of their lord, and transferable from one to another.
2. A baseborn or clownish person; a boor. [R.]
Pour the blood of the villain in one basin, and the blood of the gentleman in another, what difference shall there be proved? --Becon.
3. A vile, wicked person; a man extremely depraved, and capable or guilty of great crimes; a deliberate scoundrel; a knave; a rascal; a scamp.
Like a villain with a smiling cheek. --Shak.
Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix. --Pope.
Vil·lain, a. Villainous. [R.]
Vil·lain, v. t. To debase; to degrade. [Obs.]
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villain
n 1: a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
[syn: scoundrel]
2: the principle bad character in a film or work of fiction
[syn: baddie]