Definition of: villain

(vil′ən) noun
1. One who has committed or is disposed to commit any flagitious or disgraceful crime or series of crimes; a scoundrel; rogue: often used jocosely: He's a little villain.
2. A character in a novel, play, etc., who represents such a person and is the opponent of the hero or protagonist; also, an actor who regularly portrays such a character.
3. A villein.
4. Obs. A countryman; boor; clown; rustic.
—adjective
1. Base; vile.
2. Of low birth; occupying a low station in life. ♦ Homophone: villein. [<AF, OF vilein, vilain a farm servant <LL villanus <L villa a villa]