%villainy%

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He never yet not vileinye ne said
In all his life, unto no manner wight. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

In our modern language, it [ foul language ] is termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such villainies roused Horace into wrath. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called a slave trade. John Wesley. [ 1913 Webster ]