villeinage

V4I1L1L1E1I1N1A1G2E1

noun

The state of being a villein.

Similar
villainage
OriginMiddle English vilenage ← Old French vilenage ← Anglo-Norman vileinage →
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Meanings

nounvilleinage (countable and uncountable, plural villeinages)

plural villeinages · alternative villainage · alternative villanage · alternative villenage

  1. countableuncountableThe state of being a villein.
  2. countableuncountableA feudal system involving villeins; serfdom.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe legal status or condition of servitude of a villein or feudal serf

Similar
villainage
Broader
legal statusservitude

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinvileināgium
  2. Anglo-Normanvileinage
  3. Old Frenchvilenage
  4. Middle Englishvilenage
  5. Englishvilleinage

From Middle English vilenage, villeinage, villenage, from Old French vilenage, villenage, Anglo-Norman vileinage, villeinage, and Medieval Latin vileināgium, villenāgium. By surface analysis, villein + -age.

More words from Middle English, Old French, Anglo-Norman

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

villeinage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villeinage

MLA

“villeinage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villeinage. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “villeinage,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villeinage.

Source: villeinage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.