a. Obs. Forms: α. 4 vyleyn(y)s, vileins, 4–5 vileyns (5 vileynes-); 4 vilains-, 4–5 velaynes-, 5 vilayn(e)s-, vylayn(e)s, vyllayns, villaynis. β. 4–5 vylens, vilens (5 vyl-, vilenis, vylence, velens-); 4–5 vilans (5 velans, vilance-), 5–6 vylans, Sc. welan(y)s, willans, 6 villanes; 5 uelonis, vilonis-, vilonys-, vyloyns-. [a. OF. vileins, vilains (nom. sing. masc.):—pop.L. *villānus: see VILLAIN sb. and a.] = VILLAIN a., VILLAINOUS a.

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  a.  Of actions, speech, etc.

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  α.  1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1555. Many tyme a vyleynys [v.r. vylens] wurde Gadryþ foule þouþ to hurde. Ibid., 1847. For þat yche vyleyns synne, Ys here body partyd a-twynne.

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c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 46 (Camb. MS.). He dede neuere synne ne neuere cam there a vileyns word out of his mouth.

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c. 1450.  Merlin, ii. 26. Thow … haste putte oure frendes to so vileyns deth.

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1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 116. Quha ever strykis with wappin or othir villaynis manȝe.

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1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. iii. (1883), 97. For a man ought not to demande ner doo to be doon to his frende no vyllayns thynge that ought to be kept secrete.

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  β.  c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4412. Bot other þat wille noght do his rede Sal be done to vilans dede.

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a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4164. He … Come to a velans vale þare was a vile cheele.

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c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 527. Voidis me noght of vitius, ne vilans or tunge.

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c. 1440.  Alph. Tales, 236. And at þe laste he sulde hafe a vylans dead.

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a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 25. With gret uelonis wordes, dispraising hym.

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1460.  Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 122. He said vilens wordis ageyn the Seint.

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1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxxiv. 48. He that dyde otherwyse, shulde be reputed as an euyll doer, and for a vylans dede.

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  b.  Of persons.

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1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 28. Rome … laste so Long time amonges the Romeins Til thei become so vileins [etc.].

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c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 104. Man ys hardy as a lyon,… vyleyns and boystous as asse, rebell as a rambe.

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c. 1407.  Lydg., Reson & Sens., 3800. A cowarde and of no renoun, And vileyns of condicion.

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c. 1450.  Merlin, vi. 102. Yef he be fool, or fell, or vilenis, ye owe better to suffre hym than eny other.

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1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. xxii. 450. He is the moost coward and the vylaynst kyng and knyght that is now lyuyng.

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1556.  Olde, Antichrist, 92. Their regestres were neuer ful ynough of such myscheuous villanes popes.

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