Agency Dictionary

villain

nounPronunciation: /ˈvɪl.ən/

In Portuguese: vilão

Writing & Narrative

What does “villain” mean?

In a story, the character who opposes the hero and the community the hero serves.

Etymology

From Old French vilain, from Late Latin villanus, a worker on a country estate (villa); the sense of a wicked person came later.

Usage examples

As a conclusion, the villain is the opposing force to that community or protagonist.
Issue.16 - Gandolfini

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

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