n. Villainy. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Turk., from Ar. wilāyah. ] One of the chief administrative divisions or provinces of the Ottoman Empire; -- formerly called eyalet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ As if the p. p. of a verb to vile. See Vile, a. ] Vile. [ Obs. ] “That vild race.” Spenser. -- Vild"ly, adv. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster]

a. [ Comp. Viler superl. Vilest. ] [ OE. vil, F. vil, from L. vilis cheap, worthless, vile, base. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Low; base; worthless; mean; despicable. [ 1913 Webster ]

A poor man in vile raiment. James ii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

The craft either of fishing, which was Peter's, or of making tents, which was Paul's, were [ was ] more vile than the science of physic. Ridley. [ 1913 Webster ]

The inhabitants account gold but as a vile thing. Abp. Abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Morally base or impure; depraved by sin; hateful in the sight of God and men; sinful; wicked; bad. “Such vile base practices.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee ? Job xl. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Base. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Vile"ly, adv. -- Vile"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Vild. ] Abusive; scurrilous; defamatory; vile. [ Obs. ] “Viled speeches.” Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Villain. ] Villainous. [ Obs. ] “Vileyns sinful deeds make a churl.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of vilifying or defaming; abuse. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who vilifies or defames. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vilified p. pr. & vb. n. Vilifying. ] [ L. vilis vile + -fy; cf. L. vilificare to esteem of little value. ] 1. To make vile; to debase; to degrade; to disgrace. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When themselves they vilified
To serve ungoverned appetite. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To degrade or debase by report; to defame; to traduce; to calumniate. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many passions dispose us to depress and vilify the merit of one rising in the esteem of mankind. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To treat as vile; to despise. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I do vilify your censure. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

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v. t. [ L. vilipendere; vilis vile + pendere to weigh, to value: cf. F. vilipender. ] To value lightly; to depreciate; to slight; to despise. [ 1913 Webster ]

To vilipend the art of portrait painting. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]