Villain
/ˈvɪl.ən/noun
A wicked or criminal person; originally, a farm laborer or peasant.
Did you know?In medieval society, the word shifted from a neutral social class label to a moral condemnation, showing how language can turn status into stigma.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weik-
“to settle, live in a clan or dwelling”
Latin
Latin
villanus
“a farm servant or person belonging to a country estate”
Old French
Old French
vilain
“a peasant, rustic, or base person”
Middle English
English
vilaine / villain
“a low-born person, peasant, or morally crude person”
Modern English
English
villain
“a wicked person, especially in stories or crime”