Vilely
/ˈvaɪl.i/noun
In a morally despicable or disgusting manner.
Did you know?Its ancestor ultimately traces back to Latin vilis, meaning “cheap” or “of little worth,” which is why the word still feels like a moral verdict as much as a description.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to choose, wish, or be strong; the broader root behind value and worth”
Latin
Latin
vilis
“cheap, of little worth, low-priced”
Late Latin
Latin
vīlis
“worthless, base, mean”
Old French
Old French
vil
“base, low, wicked”
Middle English
English
vile
“morally base, despicable”
Modern English
English
vilely
“in a vile or disgusting manner”