villainy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the quality of evil by virtue of villainous behavior
    villainousness.
  2. noun a criminal or vicious act

WordNet

Vil"lain*y noun
Etymology
OE. vilanie, OF. vilanie, vilainie, vileinie, vilanie, LL. villania. See Villain, n.
Wordforms
plural Villainies
Definitions
  1. The quality or state of being a villain, or villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as, the villainy of the seducer. "Lucre of vilanye." Chaucer.
    The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy. Shak.
  2. Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk. Archaic
    He never yet not vileinye ne said In all his life, unto no manner wight. Chaucer.
    In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment. Barrow.
    Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds. Trench.
  3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime.
    Such villainies roused Horace into wrath. Dryden.
    That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called a slave trade. John Wesley.

Webster 1913