vilenessn.
/ˈvʌɪlnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈvaɪlnᵻs/ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > [noun]
gorec725
horeeOE
filthOE
foulnessOE
dirta1300
gallc1400
ordurec1400
foulinga1425
harlotry1439
muck1440
noisance1473
horeness1495
vileness1495
naughtiness1533
vility1540
bawdiness1552
vildness1597
snottery1598
soilage1598
sordidity1600
soil?1605
sluttery1607
nastiness1611
bawdry1648
sords1653
crott1657
feculence1662
nast1789
clart1808
schmutz1838
crap1925
grunge1965
gunge1969
grot1971
spooge1987
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) viii. xxviii. 341 Though it passe by vylenesse and fylthe, it is not defoylled.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. ccxliv By suche vylenes disfygure they nature Theyr chekis dyrty: Theyr tethe by rustynes Blacke, foule, and rottyn, expressyth theyr vylenes.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 285/1 Vylenesse, nothyng clenly, fetardise.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Vilenes, fylth, or ordure, sordes.
2.
a. The quality or character of being morally vile; moral depravity; baseness of character.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > baseness > [noun]
shendfulness?c1225
vilety?c1225
vilehead1340
wretchedness1389
caitifness1393
caitifhedea1400
caitiftya1400
unnoblenessc1400
unnobilitya1425
unnobletya1425
vilitya1425
vileness1526
lousiness1530
infamya1535
baseness1548
vildness1597
shabbiness1711
piggery1854
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > baseness or moral vileness
vilety?c1225
villainy?c1225
vilehead1340
caitiftya1400
vilitya1425
ignoblenessc1450
ignobility?a1475
vileness1526
baseness1537
dunghillry1581
base-mindedness1582
vildness1597
beggarya1616
lowness1652
villainya1719
caddishness1868
bounderishness1899
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. LLLiiv Secondarily [are to be considered], the vilenesse, vnkyndnesse, and vnworthynesse of man to that loue.
1555 J. Bradforth in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xlv. 128 The natural disposition of the Spaniards whose vylenes doubtles I cannot showe.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 35 I will so lay open your vilenes yt I wil make the very stoones in Kingstone streets shall smell of your knaueries.
1635 Life Long Meg of Westm. xviii. 46 (Hindley) I do enjoin you that..you come into the church, and there..declare to the people the vileness of your life.
a1677 I. Barrow Serm. Several Occasions (1678) 242 God being most holy and pure,..we, sensible of our corruption and vileness, may be fearfull and shy of coming near unto him.
1693 T. Creech in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires xiii. Argt. 255 He expatiates on the Vileness of the Times.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. x. 46 Her Vileness..could hardly be equalled by the worst Actions of the most abandoned Procuress.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. i. 14 Judges are superior to the vileness of pecuniary corruption.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam l. 73 Is there no baseness we would hide? No inner vileness that we dread? View more context for this quotation
1868 E. Edwards Life Sir W. Ralegh I. i. 8 One of the very few worthies who had redeemed the vileness of a reign.
1880 E. White Certainty in Relig. 95 The vileness of the temper which affronts the Eternal Mercy by the response of a scoffing criticism.
b. An instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > instance of corruption > [noun]
unthewc897
lastOE
vicea1300
misthewa1325
fault1377
mistetch?c1450
depravity1641
vitiosity1643
cachexy1652
misteach1803
vileness1863
unvirtue1869
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > baseness or moral vileness > instance of
vileness1863
1863 Pusey in Oxf. Lent. Serm. 14 When years of life have been spent in such preference of self, self-will, ambition, vilenesses to God.
1872 J. Ruskin Eagle's Nest §79 Ghastly convulsions in thought, and vilenesses in action.
3. Low or mean condition.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > ignobleness or baseness > [noun]
villainyc1386
simplessea1393
littlenessa1400
unnoblenessc1400
unnobilitya1425
unnobletya1425
ignoblenessc1450
ignobility?a1475
vileness1549
vilityc1550
haskardy?1578
dunghillry1581
indignity1589
beggarya1616
ignoblesse?1616
poorness1625
lowness1652
meanness1660
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Rom. xv. f. xli He therfore submitted hym self to our vilenes, to thend he would by lytle and lytle exalt vs to a hygher state.
4. Extreme badness or worthlessness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > worthlessness > [noun]
worthlessness1604
vileness1723
good-for-nothingness1740
1723 T. Thomas in Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 74 One [picture] which, upon account of the vileness of the artist, ought not to have been placed there.
1807 A. M. Porter Hungarian Brothers I. iv. 96 While she plied the modelling-sticks or, the chissel, with equal vileness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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