Villein

Pronunciation: /ˈvɪlən/

Definitions of villein

noun a person entirely under the domination of another

Example Sentences

A1 The villein worked in the fields for the lord of the manor.

A2 The villein was bound to the land and had to work for the lord.

B1 The villein had limited rights and freedoms compared to other members of society.

B2 The villein's labor was essential for the functioning of the feudal system.

C1 The villein's status was often exploited by the nobility for their own gain.

C2 The villein's position in society was one of servitude and dependence on the landowner.

Examples of villein in a Sentence

formal In medieval times, a villein was a peasant who was bound to work on their lord's land.

informal Back in the day, a villein was basically a serf who had to work for the lord.

slang The villein had to toil away in the fields all day long.

figurative Being treated like a villein in modern times means being stuck in a low-paying job with no prospects for advancement.

Grammatical Forms of villein

• past tense: villeined
• plural: villeins
• comparative: more villein
• superlative: most villein
• present tense: villeins
• future tense: will villein
• perfect tense: have villeined
• continuous tense: is villeining
• singular: villein
• positive degree: villein
• infinitive: to villein
• gerund: villeining
• participle: villeined

Origin and Evolution of villein

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French/Late Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'villein' originated from the Old French term 'villain', which came from the Late Latin word 'villanus' meaning 'farmhand'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'villein' evolved to refer to a feudal serf or peasant who was bound to the land and subject to the will of the lord. The negative connotations associated with the word 'villein' led to its decline in usage and eventual replacement by other terms such as 'serf' or 'peasant'.