Middle English Dictionary Entry
vīl(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vīl(e n. Also (N) wil. |
| Etymology | From vīl(e adj.; for N quots. also cp. ON: cp. OI vīl misery, wretchedness. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For examples denoting a person (senses 1.(d) and (e)), cp. file n.(2).
1.
(a) Offensive speech, idle or evil words;
(b) that which is of no value, a worthless thing; the vilest, the least fine thing or things;
(c) the vilest, the foulest or most disgusting thing; also, the most harmful venom.
(d) a morally vile person [cp. vile adj., sense 3.(a)], one who is wicked, an evildoer;—also coll.;
(e) an unworthy or a dishonorable person [cp. vile adj., sense 3.(b)]; a loose woman [quot. c1425(c1400)]; with ref. to bees: a worker, drone [quot. a1460].
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)106 : Still þi tung, And spek no uyl [L dolum] of ald na ȝong.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)144 : He…in hert hase no wykkyd thoght, Ne with hys tong no uil hase wroght.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)76/27 : He ous tekþ to knawe þe greate þinges uram þe little, þe preciouses uram þe viles [Vices & V.(2): þe litle worþ], þe zuete uram þe zoure.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)82/7 : Hi ne conne…deme betuene grat and smal, betuene precious an vil [Vices & V.(2): nonȝt].
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2020 : Schos þai sall haue…Of þe farest þai sal not by, Bot þe vilist.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1601 : The iiijth and the viliste may not be refuside…And that is the erthly litarge of oure stone.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)92/22 : Þet body of man is…þe vileste þet is.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.158 : Of alle fretynge venymes þe vilest is þe scorpion.
d
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)19/11 : God may se in alle stedis baþe vyl [L malos] and gude.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(LdMisc 559)3658 : He þat sweriþ by his god alday falsely..he synnes as a vyle [Lnsd: he is a vileyn man and vile], lawe ne trouthe hathe he noone.
e
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)818 : Medee…wolde be more certayn That he schulde here no-wayes be-gile Ne holde here afftir for no vile.
- c1425 How GWife(1) (Hnt HM 128)130 : He þat hath wele done, ȝelde hym wele his whyle; He doth anoþer tyme þe bette, but he be a vyle.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)235 : In his book seith of the bee Virgile, Too kyndis are, a gentil and a vile.
2.
(a) A wicked deed, an act of moral depravity;
(b) ?humiliation; ?a disgrace;
(c) a disordered or an unpleasant state or condition, an illness.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)76 : When they wer in bed and thought to a restid, they went to the women þat wer so hend…they synnyd so sore in þat ylk while that many men wept and cursid þat vile.
b
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10815 : Frolle…seye wel þey…wylde Þe toun vntil Arthur ȝylde, & [vr. & þat] þought hym schame & vyl.
c
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)28/18 : Lauerd, for þi merci giue vs sua mesur-like at ete þat we alle wils o bodi & saul mai fle.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)28/11 : Gete þar be nane owtrage, þat nane be costiue, ne nane oþir wil, þurȝ surfait o mete.