villain

The story

1. Latin · derived fromvīlla
2. Late Latin · derived fromvīllānus
3. Old French · derived fromvilein
4. Middle English · inherited fromvilein
5. English todayvillain

Probably from Middle English vilein, from Old French vilein (modern French vilain), in turn from Late Latin vīllānus, meaning serf or peasant, someone who is bound to the soil of a Latin vīlla, which is to say, worked on the equivalent of a plantation in late Antiquity, in Italy or Gaul. Doublet of villein. Compare typologically pagan (see more).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 16th century To debase; to degrade .