A person or character in a story who does evil or harmful things
Examples:
The villain hatched a devious plot to take over the kingdom.Despite his villainous acts, he had a tragic backstory.The movie's villain captivated audiences with his charisma.
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Villein
/ˈvɪlən/
A medieval peasant who was legally tied to the land they worked and were subject to the lord's will; they were part of the feudal system.
Examples:
The villein worked tirelessly on the lord's lands.A villein was bound to the manor, unlike freemen.Villeins often paid rent through labor services.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Villain is often associated with bad characters in stories, especially those who oppose the hero.
Villein is a historical term from the feudal system, referring to a class of serfs or peasants tied to working on a noble's land.
Remember a villain in a mask might appear in comic books, while a villein might be found in history books about the Middle Ages.