Middle English Dictionary Entry
vilein adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | vilein adj. Also vileine, vilain(e. |
| Etymology | OF vilain, vilaine, (chiefly AF) vilein(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Ill-bred, not refined; also, ill-mannered, discourteous; churlish; also used of the heart;
(b) wicked, evil, vicious.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)18/7 : He is wel vileyn and ontrewe auoreye his lhord þet alle guod him heþ y-do, and him ne þonkeþ ac uoryet, and yelt him kuead uor guod and vileynye uor corteysye.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)194/3 : Zome þer byeþ zuo uyleyne to þe poure huanne hi ham yeueþ enye elmesse…þet wel is worþ þet zeluer.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1182 : Will seith…That such an herte is to vilein Which dar noght love.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7203 : Lamedon…hem wrathfulli congeide, And for thei founde him so vilein, Whan thei come into Grece ayein…thei token such vengance.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1508 : She [Venus] kan also…Hertys which that be vileyn Disposen hem to gentilesse, To honour, and to worthynesse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)690 : It is seide that thou art the gentilest and the moste curteise knyght but in that faileth the renoon, for thou art the moste vileyn knyght that euer I mette in my lif.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.206 : Caligula…of his oghne Sosters…Berefte the virginite, And whanne he hadde hem so forlein, As he the which was al vilein, He dede hem out of londe exile.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)214/7862 : To a cros of tre…naylyd was he And hangyd up betwyx theuys tweyne As mayster of hem & most vyleyne.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4538 : Þogh he to God be false and wicke And forswerith him neuere so þicke His neighebore forto be-gile, He is a vileyn man and vile.
2.
(a) Of a deed: menial, demeaning; of ancestry: humble, lowly;
(b) of an act or action, etc.: performed in a morally offensive manner; wickedly executed or engaged in; despicable, vile; also, of words: offensive, contemptuous, abusive.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2961 : Gentil blood of his roial nature Is euer enclyned to merci & pite, Wher of custum thes vileyns do ther cure…To be vengable…Folwyng the techchis of ther vileyn langage [read: lynage].
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)279/10283 : Was neuere kyngys doughtyr…So euyl arayid…Seyn syttyng & vsyn werkys vyleyn!
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)59/1 : Efterward comþ þe zenne of yelpynge, þat is wel grat and wel uoul, wel uals and wel vileyn.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.53 : He did a grete outrage, His broþer a foule despite, him self vileyn skandre.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2225 : For no thyng eke thy tunge applye To speke wordis of Rebaudrye; To vilayne speche in no degre Late neuer thi lippe vnbounden be, For I nought holde hym…Curteys that foule wordis seith.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)216/39 : The fifte leef is vilayn swerynge, as by God, by his myght.
- c1440 Chaucer CT.WB.(Cmb Ii.3.26)D.1158 : Vilayn [Heng: Vileynes synful dedes maken a cherl].
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)233/5 : Leue alle þouȝtes wiþ-oute of þi flesch, foul and vilayne and worldeliche.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)154 : After chydyng cometh dysdeyne, as whanne on pryketh an-oþer wyth vyleyn woordys, for a vyleyn woord is scharpere þan a rasour & more peryschande þan an allys-poynt.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)47/30 : By þe horrible and vileyn synnes that this peple did in diuerse maners and bicause thei wold not obey God their creatoure, v citees sank into helle alle fulle of euel and sinfull peple.
- c1500 Chaucer LGW (Trin-C R.3.19)1824 : Whi hast thow don this lady vilanye? Allas of the this was a vileyn dede.