villain Hear it!

villain definition

vil·lain (vil′ən)

noun

  1. a person guilty of or likely to commit great crimes; evil or wicked person; scoundrel
  2. a wicked or unprincipled character in a novel, play, etc. who opposes the protagonist or hero
  3. someone or something regarded as the cause of a problem, difficulty, injustice, etc.
  4. villein
  5. Obsolete a boor; lout

Etymology: ME vilein < OFr vilain < VL villanus, a farm servant < L villa, a farm: see villa

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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