Obs. Forms: α. 3–5 vilte (uilte, 4 filte), 4–5 vylte, 6 vilty. β. 4–5 vilete, 5–6 vylete(e, 6 vilety, 6–7 viletie. [a. AF. and OF. vilte (= It. viltà, Pr. viltat), f. vil VILE a. Cf. VILITY.] Vileness, in various senses; a vile action.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 380. I hwuche uilte, i hwuche wo, he ledde his lif on eorðe.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1081. Gret vilte þou askest ous, wanne we of one kunde Beþ icome.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5206. He þat was hanged on a tre Bysyde Ihesu for vylte.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xlix. 22. Þat þou wit þat þou ill did and see þi vilte.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 199. Neuer ȝet in no boke breued I herde Þat euer he wrek so wyþerly on werk þat he made, Ne venged for no vilte of vice ne synne.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet, lviii. (Prose), 38. Alle þe uiltez þat man wille put hir to.
14[?]. S. E. Leg. (MS. Bodl. 779), in Herrig’s Archiv, LXXXII. 352/84. Forȝeue hem þis gult þat doþ me soch filte.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 290/1. After the passion the Crosse was moche enhaunced for the vylte was transported in to preciousyte.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. i. 148. Whosoeuer shall … loose the same [horse] through vilty or negligence.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 20340. Þar-for þaron hei [v.r. haue] þou þe thoght,… þat tai do me na vilete.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. xxiii. 93. Having euer in mynde his oune wickednes & his vilete.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., viii. 74. For yf … it happed that … [I] put the to deth it shold to me be vylete and reproche.
1504. Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. xxiv. 217. If man consyder well his vylete, pouerte & great indygence.
1576. Bedingfield, trans. Cardanus’ Comf., 57 b. And misery, vilety, shame,… are al more euil then death.
1602. Segar, Hon. Mil. & Civ., III. v. 118. Better it is therefore to iustifie honour by Armes, then incurre suspition of viletie.
