Wiktionary

vilain

French

edit

Etymology

edit

Inherited from Old French vilain, vilein, villein, from Late Latin vīllānus (“farm worker”), from Latin vīlla. Not related to vil.

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /vi.lɛ̃/, (before a vowel) /vi.lɛn‿/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Homophone: vilains

Noun

edit

vilain m (plural vilains, feminine vilaine)

  1. villain
  2. peasant
  3. country dweller

Derived terms

edit

Adjective

edit

vilain (feminine vilaine, masculine plural vilains, feminine plural vilaines)

  1. ugly
    Synonyms: laid, moche
    Antonyms: beau, joli
    une vilaine couleur ― an ugly color
    une vilaine voix ― an ugly voice
  2. disagreeable, awful
    Il fait vilain. ― The weather is awful.
    La curiosité est un vilain défaut. ― Curiosity killed the cat.
  3. naughty
    Synonym: mauvais
    Antonyms: gentil, sage
    de vilains enfants ― naughty children
  4. villainous, wicked, nasty, evil
    Synonyms: cruel, dangereux, mauvais, méchant
    de vilaines actions ― wicked deeds
    une vilaine fièvre ― a bad fever
    Elle a un vilain rhume. ― She's got a nasty cold.
    Il m’a joué un vilain tour. ― He played a dirty trick on me.

Derived terms

edit
edit

Further reading

edit

Norman

edit

Etymology

edit

From Old French vilain, from Late Latin vīllānus (“farm worker”), from Latin vīlla.

Adjective

edit

vilain m

  1. (Jersey) ugly

Old French

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

From Late Latin vīllānus (“farm worker”), from Latin vīlla.

Noun

edit

vilain oblique singular, m (oblique plural vilainz, nominative singular vilainz, nominative plural vilain)

  1. peasant; commoner

Synonyms

edit

Descendants

edit
  • French: vilain
  • Norman: vilain
  • → Middle English: vilein
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=vilain&oldid=79568008"