Vil"lain*y (?), n.; pl. Villainies (#). [OE. vilanie, OF. vilanie, vilainie, vileinie, vilanie, LL. villania. See Villain, n.] [Written also villany.]
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.