Vil"lain*y (?), n.; pl.
Villainies (#). [OE. vilanie, OF. vilanie,
vilainie, vileinie, vilanie, LL. villania. See
Villain, n.] [Written also villany.]
1. The quality or state of being a villain, or
villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as, the
villainy of the seducer. "Lucre of vilanye."
Chaucer.
The commendation is not in his wit, but in his
villainy.
Shak.
2. Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous
speech; foul talk. [Archaic]
He never yet not vileinye ne said
In all his life, unto no manner wight.
Chaucer.
In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed
villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest
education and employment.
Barrow.
Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul
and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds.
Trench.
3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity;
a crime.
Such villainies roused Horace into
wrath.
Dryden.
That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called
a slave trade.
John Wesley.