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(), n.[OE. vilein, F. vilain, LL. villanus, from villa a village, L. villa a farm. See Villa.] 1. (Feud. 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. Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant, that is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti gleb); and villains in gross, that is, annexed to the person of their lord, and transferable from one to another. Blackstone. 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 ra Vil"lain a.[F. vilain.] Villainous. [R.] Shak. Vil"lain v. t.To debase; to degrade. [Obs.] Sir T. More. スポンサード リンク
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