Obs. exc. arch. Forms: 5–6 vilite, 6 vylyte, vylite, vilitee, 6–7 vilitie, 7, 9 vility. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) vilité (var. of vilié VILETY), ad. L. vīlitās, f. vīlis VILE a.: see -ITY. So It. vilità.]
1. Vileness of character or conduct; moral degradation or baseness.
1388. Wyclif, Deut. xxiv. 1. If … sche fyndith not grace bifor hise iȝen for sum vilite [L. vilitatem], he schal write a libel … of forsakyng.
1502. Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. v. (1891), 199. That all vylyte or synne, specially thyn owne synne & foulenes, dysplease the.
1549. Chaloner, Erasm. on Folly, P iij. They coumpt it vilitee for theim to yelde theyr valiant soules to God, any where els than in a foughten fielde.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 209. Then surely have wee not now so great cause to dread him, as to blame our selves and our wranglings and vility.
1888. Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I. 556. Zelots, who of their natural vility were busy-bodies, questioners of other men’s religion.
† 2. a. Mean or low estimate. Obs.–1
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. lxi. (1869), 37. For charitee holdeth in cheertee that that oothere bolden in vilitee.
† b. Meanness or lowliness of condition. Obs.
1549. Compl. Scotl., xx. 170. Al ȝour gloire, veltht, and dignite, sal change in vilite.
c. 1550. Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893), 123. I mervaile muche theare is anie (seinge a vilitie and contempte of the thinge) will occupie the feate of husbandrie at all.
1596. Bell, Surv. Popery, II. iv. 165. He suffered … in time of his infancie, baseness of his mothers womb, pouertie, asperitie, vilitie in the manger.
a. 1618. J. Davies (Heref.), Witte’s Pilgr., lxxii. The Sunne … Disdaines not to behold the basest Worme, To glad his Soule and grace his vility.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., vi. 17. That idle mistake … may probably be grounded upon the seeming vility of these figures.
1696. Kennett, Rom. Antiq., II. V. vi. 281. The Comedians wore these [sc. socci] to represent the vility of the Persons they represented.
† c. Lowness of value or price; cheapness. Obs.
1623. Cockeram, Eng. Dict., II. Cheapnes, vility.
1638. Penkethman, Artach., C ij. Such vilitie or cheapnesse of … graine, as 6d. the Quarter.
1674. Staveley, Rom. Horseleech, 221. The vilitie of Habits [i.e., dress] should be measured by the custom of every Country.
† 3. Impurity, filth. Obs.
1540. Sc. Acts, Jas. V. (1814), II. 374/2. Becaus of þe vilite þat cumis be slaying of flesche be the flescheouris.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 44. The refuce, drosse, & vilar part of the outher blud … separated from the purer for the vylite & euel qualite therin comprehendyd.
