vilain

French

Etymology

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
    une vilaine couleur ― an ugly color
    une vilaine voix ― an ugly voice
    Synonyms: laid, moche
    Antonyms: beau, joli
  2. disagreeable, awful
    Il fait vilain. ― The weather is awful.
    La curiosité est un vilain défaut. ― Curiosity killed the cat.
  3. naughty
    de vilains enfants ― naughty children
    Synonym: mauvais
    Antonyms: gentil, sage
  4. villainous, wicked, nasty, evil
    de vilaines actions ― wicked deeds
    une vilaine fièvre ― a 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.
    Synonyms: cruel, dangereux, mauvais, méchant

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

  1. peasant; commoner

Synonyms

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