Villainy /(?)/

pl. Villainies

1. The quality or state of being a villain, or villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as, the villainy of the seducer.

   The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy.

2. Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk. [Archaic]

   He never yet not vileinye ne said In all his life, unto no manner wight.

   In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment.

   Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds.

3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime.

   Such villainies roused Horace into wrath.

   That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called a slave trade.