vilain

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French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French vilain, vilein, villein, from Late Latin vīllānus (farm worker), from Latin vīlla. Not related to vil.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /vi.lɛ̃/, (before a vowel) /vi.lɛn‿/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Homophone: vilains

Noun

vilain m (plural vilains, feminine vilaine)

  1. villain
  2. peasant
  3. country dweller

Derived terms

Adjective

vilain (feminine vilaine, masculine plural vilains, feminine plural vilaines)

  1. ugly
    Synonyms: laid, moche
    Antonyms: beau, joli
    une vilaine couleuran ugly color
    une vilaine voixan ugly voice
  2. disagreeable, awful
    Il fait vilain.The weather is awful.
    La curiosité est un vilain défaut.Curiosity killed the cat.
  3. naughty
    Synonym: mauvais
    Antonyms: gentil, sage
    de vilains enfantsnaughty children
  4. villainous, wicked, nasty, evil
    Synonyms: cruel, dangereux, mauvais, méchant
    de vilaines actionswicked deeds
    une vilaine fièvrea bad fever
    Elle a un vilain rhume.She's got a nasty cold.
    Il m’a joué un vilain tour.He played a dirty trick on me.

Derived terms

Further reading

Norman

Etymology

From Old French vilain, from Late Latin vīllānus (farm worker), from Latin vīlla.

Adjective

vilain m

  1. (Jersey) ugly

Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Late Latin vīllānus (farm worker), from Latin vīlla.

Noun

vilain oblique singularm (oblique plural vilainz, nominative singular vilainz, nominative plural vilain)

  1. peasant; commoner

Synonyms

Descendants

  • French: vilain
  • Norman: vilain
  • Middle English: vilein