Hi everyone, today we have quest blogger and historical researcher extraordinaire Hilary Melton-Butcher to share with us the history and evolution of the words villein and villains. Thanks for stopping by Hilary, and take it away .....
What is the difference between today’s villains and those of over 1,000 years ago? The spelling yes! Good Guy (villein) v Bad Guy (villain)!. The terminology of the word ‘villein/villain’ has changed over the years ... as has happened with many other words and our usage today will no doubt be completely different to that used by future generations.
Back to ‘Villeins’ (the good guys) ... in that great survey about the life and times of early Norman England in 1086, the Domesday Book recorded about 240,000 households, of which the most numerous element ... 100,000 were marked as belonging to villeins!
The term as applied here one thousand years ago, had probably already been in use since Roman times and was part of the Anglo Saxon language. Villein, a farm-servant, comes from the Latin term villa (agricultural holding) – he was an unfree peasant – in feudal times he was bound to the Manor and owed service to its lord, but he was not a slave.
The notion of rascality, wickedness and worthlessness now associated with villain is a result of aristocratic condescension and sense of superiority occurring in the Middle Ages. A quote from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” clarifies ‘villain’ thus:
“I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains.”
That quote says it like it is .. so the evil ‘villain’ evolved as a word to one with a derogatory meaning .. which we know so well today – as a person of less than knightly status; whereby over time unchivalrous acts, such as treachery or rape, being considered villainous in the modern sense of the word, ‘villain’ became used as a term of abuse, taking on its modern meaning.
The word became commonplace through the telling of fairy tales - as the protagonist in a story-initiating villainy, whereby the villain caused harm to the hero or his family; the early theatre posters of the 1880s engaged us with the purposely expressed bad guy features ... glinting eyes, snarling mouth and a devious look of treachery.
So the word ‘villein’ has been turned on its head to mean ‘villain’ – the perfidious bad guy engaging in conflict with our good guy – now known as our hero.
Thank you - Stephen .. it’s been a pleasure and an honour being part of your global tour with Breakthrough
Picture of Villain: One popular concept of the "villain", meant to mimic the purposely distinctive visage of villains, initially from the stage plays of the 1880s.
If you feel this blog is worthy, go ahead and make my day. Retweet it
What is the difference between today’s villains and those of over 1,000 years ago? The spelling yes! Good Guy (villein) v Bad Guy (villain)!. The terminology of the word ‘villein/villain’ has changed over the years ... as has happened with many other words and our usage today will no doubt be completely different to that used by future generations.
Back to ‘Villeins’ (the good guys) ... in that great survey about the life and times of early Norman England in 1086, the Domesday Book recorded about 240,000 households, of which the most numerous element ... 100,000 were marked as belonging to villeins!
The term as applied here one thousand years ago, had probably already been in use since Roman times and was part of the Anglo Saxon language. Villein, a farm-servant, comes from the Latin term villa (agricultural holding) – he was an unfree peasant – in feudal times he was bound to the Manor and owed service to its lord, but he was not a slave.
The notion of rascality, wickedness and worthlessness now associated with villain is a result of aristocratic condescension and sense of superiority occurring in the Middle Ages. A quote from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” clarifies ‘villain’ thus:
“I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains.”
That quote says it like it is .. so the evil ‘villain’ evolved as a word to one with a derogatory meaning .. which we know so well today – as a person of less than knightly status; whereby over time unchivalrous acts, such as treachery or rape, being considered villainous in the modern sense of the word, ‘villain’ became used as a term of abuse, taking on its modern meaning.
The word became commonplace through the telling of fairy tales - as the protagonist in a story-initiating villainy, whereby the villain caused harm to the hero or his family; the early theatre posters of the 1880s engaged us with the purposely expressed bad guy features ... glinting eyes, snarling mouth and a devious look of treachery.
So the word ‘villein’ has been turned on its head to mean ‘villain’ – the perfidious bad guy engaging in conflict with our good guy – now known as our hero.
Thank you - Stephen .. it’s been a pleasure and an honour being part of your global tour with Breakthrough
Picture of Villain: One popular concept of the "villain", meant to mimic the purposely distinctive visage of villains, initially from the stage plays of the 1880s.
If you feel this blog is worthy, go ahead and make my day. Retweet it
78 comments:
I had never researched the word "villain" so this was a very informative post. Wonder if it will change meaning over the next thousand years?
This was very interesting. I guess the issue of considering the lower socio-economic class of people as bad guys goes a long way back into history.
Thanks Hilary and Stephen, for sharing this! Hilary, I always learn something from your posts, and this is no exception. Perhaps you should compile all these goodies into a book someday. :)
Blessings,
Karen
What an interesting post! Guess I never thought about the spelling differences. Thanks for the informative explanation!!!
Monti
MaryMontagueSikes
Hilary, thanks for stopping by today. You have a way of researching the history of something and making it so interesting.
Helen, I never researched the word either. This was fun taking a trip through history and seeing hoe villein and villain have evolved.
Susan, unfortunately some things will never change, such as stereotyping classes of people.
Karen, Hilary is one of the more informativ bloggers out there. She's very thorough and I always learn something new at her blog.
Monti, Hilary does a terriic job at explainign things and makes it fun too.
food for thought!
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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Definitely a worthy blog! How words do change!! I learned something interesting tonight stopping by, as always!! Thanks to both of you.
Ann Best, A Long Journey Home
Very interesting. Thanks so much for the informative post.
:-)
Steve .. thanks so much for hosting me here – it’s been a pleasure being a part of your Villain Tour, while also having had the opportunity to follow along with you .. in the marketing of your book: you’re a generous sharer of information and experiences.
Breakthrough is a racy roller-coaster fun read .. while I’m learning some physics .. which goes so well with your new Science For Youth Tab .. and the Library Blog tab to help aspiring authors – brilliant ideas.
This is one great blog as it offers so much to others .. and I’m delighted and honoured to be here as a part of “The Show” .. enjoy the Villain Tour ...
Stephen will be guest posting on my blog tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there tomorrow! ... thank you so much .. Hilary
Hi Helen .. I wondered if anyone had looked up the derivation of the word .. it looks like 'no'! I'm sure words and language will change dramatically in the next thousand years - perhaps we'll be able to come back via a wormhole?! Great seeing you - Hilary
Hi Susan - lovely meeting you here .. and so pleased you enjoyed the information. I'm sure your description is absolutely right .. no money and poverty stricken meant you were probably 'a bad sort'.
Enjoy your week .. Hilary
Hi Karen ... thanks so much & so appreciate the thought .. I've certainly some ideas for the blog posts .. it's just having the energy to pull everything together! I'm learning from the likes of you and Steve - published authors as I go and fellow bloggers of the possibilities .. one day!
Lovely seeing you Karen and thank you so much - enjoy today .. Hilary
Hi Monti .. so pleased you enjoyed the post .. I’m surprised at how much I miss as I go through life – now it slightly hits me and I think – oh yes .. that would be interesting to post about! Villain – was just one of those opportunities!
Have a good week .. Hilary
Hi Stephen .. thanks so much for the generous introduction to the post and your comment here – it’s really encouraging as I love what I do – which really is teaching myself all these years later – blogging just allows others to come along for the ride!!
Thanks too for these comment replies to your readers – much appreciated ... Hilary
Hi Cloudia .. thank you .. – you’ve given me food for thought .. Waikiki ... sun drenched sands and palm fringed beaches .. sound so much better than our frozen scenery! Good to meet you here .. Hilary
Hi Ann .. thanks so much for the thumbs up – wonderful seeing you over at ‘my place’! Delighted you learnt something ... and see you and Jen again .. have a positive week .. Hilary
Hi Misha .. good to meet you here – thank you for the comment and delighted you enjoyed it .. enjoy the week .. Hilary
hmmn I never looked at it from this point of view either. i am writing my first villain ever and I am still struggling with whether to make him redeemable or not great post guys
Hi Joanna .. thanks for the comment - good luck with your villain - there are so many types .. and the different directional paths they can take! Enjoy the process .. Hilary
Jakyll and Hyde perhaps?
Fire and Cross
Interesting how words change over the course of time. Words are quite fluidic, never truly concrete, but rather evolving as we continue the march of time. Great post!
Interesting! I had no idea there were originally two spellings/meanings of the word. Now who can I impress with that tidbit today? hmmmm.
I have an award for you on my blog. :)
A Shift in Dimensions
Isn't language just amazing?!?! Look how that wonderful word evolved - thank you for such an amazing and fascinating history of the word villain/villein!!
I love the pics too btw - all villains should be as dastardly as that guy with the shifty eyes, long black moustache, hat and tails tying a damsel in distres to a railtrack! LOL! take care
x
Hi Enid .. I’m sure one could draw some wonderful villainous mixes between the Saxon, Medieval times and the 1800s with Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide .. that would be a story and a half. Thanks for the thought! Hilary
Hi Jeffrey – nice to meet you .. you are so right our words and language are constantly evolving .. and I love the phrase ‘as we continue the march of time’. Many thanks – Hilary
Hi Vicki .. thank you! as Jeffrey mentions our words are changing, as too has the spelling – which you mention .. it is interesting this derivation of words – I love finding out about their travels through Europe usually! I hope you can find someone to impress with this information .. or use it in a quiz at Christmas! Good to meet you here - Hilary
Hi Laura .. Thank you so much .. appreciate your support .. I’ll be over! Cheers Hilary
Hi Old Kitty .. you’re right .. language = amazes! It’s a good tale to tell .. villein to villain.
Steve kindly provided your favourite picture .. tying the damsel to the railway tracks .. those silent movies always made me laugh!! I love pictures they illustrate aspects of my blog posts .. Hilary
Wow...that's good to know, Hilary. If I'd seen the word villein, I would have thought it was an old way of spelling villain.
Hi Laura .. it is a bit different isn't it .. villein - poor worker, while villain one of those bully beasts .. or man with evil eyes .. or many various alternatives .. that authors can dream up.
Thanks for the comment - Hilary
Most informative and interesting to read.
Yvonne.
Most informative and interesting to read.
Yvonne.
Wasn't aware the term had changed so much over the years.
Hi Yvonne .. many thanks .. as long as you enjoyed the read. Good to meet you here .. Hilary
Hi Alex .. you're right it is extraordinary how many things are now completely different to their original meaning all those centuries ago .. Thank you - Hilary
Great post!!! I bet this does go a long ways back in history... very interesting!!! Gave me a lot of ideas and things to think about in regards to people I've met or encountered in my life. :-/
Have a wonderful week!!! :-)
~ Coreen
Hi Coreen .. nice to meet you .. thank you! Well just a couple of thousand years or so .. there’s plenty to choose from in that time frame .. villeins or villains. Good to know it’s given you food for thought .. you too have a good week .. Hilary
Hi Hillary –
Wow… very interesting and something I had never considered. I wonder how many words have flipped in meaning over the centuries…
Oh, I alwayus love Hilary's posts - they're so informative and so interesting. I had no idea the word 'villein' ever existed!
Waking up today to some awesome posts! That's one of the benefits to living in time zones behind everyone else. Thanks Hilary for the post! As always you have something to say that is unique and interesting.
I love hearing about the origins of familiar (and not so familiar) words and expressions. Fun post!
Very interesting! I never knew this, so thank you for bringing it forward.
Hi TE .. good to see you here .. and TE please don’t ask me to find out how many words have changed meaning .. many I suspect! Thanks so much .. enjoy your week .. Hilary
Hi Talli – lovely seeing you here .. after your fun (& hard work) last week .. how was the choccy celebratory weekend? Delighted you find my blog informative and interesting .. many thanks – much appreciated! From a cold Eastbourne .. to a no doubt cold London – cheers for now! Hilary
Hi Stephen .. surprise, surprise .. your various 'trips' have sure taken you places .. and now you’re almost back here in London town .. just so pleased to find the post fitted in .. mind you, if you want to do Heroes .. I could do something along different lines there – which I found out about recently!!
That being said .. it’s a delight being here .. and thanks so much for the complement .. See you on my blog tomorrow morning early my time – if I can rise & shine in this freezing frost and fog we’ve got! Hilary
Hi KK .. delighted to meet you .. and so pleased you enjoyed the post .. hope to see you around – Hilary
Hi Amy .. it’s a pleasure .. I enjoy posting about all kinds of different things .. and look forward to seeing you in the blogosphere again .. Hilary
what a fun post! I love learning about stuff like this--thanks, Stephen & Hilary! :o)
Hi LTM .. great – lovely to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by .. and see you around the blogosphere soon .. cheers Hilary
I didn't know any of that. Very interesting, thank you for sharing.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Oh yes, I remember this from my university days! Funny of certain words get turned on their head over time, isn't it? Like 'wicked' which used to mean something evil or 'nice' which used to mean someone who was not nice.
Great guest post, Hilary!
Another cool installment to the villain series, Stephen.
Jai
Hi Nancy .. good to meet you here .. glad you enjoyed it & hope to see you around the blogosphere .. Hilary
Hi Jai .. oh excellent someone who learnt this info at their University! .. If that’s the way “wicked” came out about .. that’s interesting too .. great addition to the conversation – thank you.
Thanks for the complement .. good to meet you & hope to see you around more often – Jai ..
Stephen’s post on my blog tomorrow is a great one too .. see you there - Hilary
Wow, that is so amazing. That word has been though the ringer.
Okay, I know some things, but that villein exists and means good guy is brand new to me!
Loving the evil piano music now playing in my head as Mr. Villian ties up Mr. Villein to the railroad tracks. But the good guy shall make it away in the nick of time, of course.
Yes, the changing of words, dynamic language, new terms coming in all the time. I LOVE language!!! And learning the Hilary fun way.
Thanks, both.
xoxo
I love reading about word origins and learning something new. Thanks for your informative and entertaining post, Hilary.
This has been a very interesting blog today with great comments. I see lots of new faces. Its great to meet you all. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.
The evolution of our language makes for interesting study. Thanks for this informative post:-)
Hi Holly .. Thank you! .. as you say the word has been around the houses over the centuries! .. good to see you – Hilary
Hi Jannie .. oh ok – ah! Well you told me about spaghetti and China!
I love the way you’ve made ‘your’ music bring the villain to life – I guess it was playing for me – but now you tell me – I can hear it!! And your description of the Good Guy Villein being tied up by the Bad Guy Villain .. makes sense .. and the wriggling of the ropes as Mr G Villein pulls away to live another day!
Thanks Jannie – that’s a great complement .. delighted that you enjoyed it .. Hilary
Hi Jane – lovely seeing you here .. and so pleased you enjoyed the descriptive post .. thank you – Hilary
Hi Steve .. thanks so much .. it’s good to spread the word on new authors marketing their way into the public domain .. and for me having the opportunity to meet new bloggers .. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being here – Hilary
Hi Cinette .. so pleased you enjoyed the post – it is fun learning where words come from .. good to meet you - Hilary
Cool and informative post!
Thanks, that was great, informative and interesting, I didn't know.
Hilary n' Stephen, Thank you for
the insight! A great history lesson, fascinating to know the origin of words!
Great information on villains. It's fun to learned how the meaning has changed.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
This is interesting stuff, Hilary. I never knew about the word "villein." Very intriguing series you have going here, Stephen. I guess it's time I get caught up.
Thank you Hilary for stopping by today and sharing your insights on the history of villains. I did not know this and as a writer find the background very interesting. We will certainly have to do this again!
Hi Tyrean .. delighted you enjoyed the information .. and a pleasure to meet you here .. thank you - Hilary
Hi Ella .. it's always good to meet new bloggers - so delighted you've popped in to meet Steve and I .. Breakthrough is a great blog to be a part of ..
Looking forward to see you again .. Hilary
Hi Mason .. thanks for calling in .. as you say words change - and that evolution is interesting to learn about .. thank you and have a good week ahead .. Hilary
Hi Patricia .. I think Steve's onto a good idea here .. these Home and Away series .. with a theme running through .. good to see you and enjoy this Wednesday when it comes around! -Hilary
Hi Steve .. delighted to be here and share in the fun, meet new people and generally expand my knowledge and learning base ..
Have a wonderful rest of the week & see you at your next Home and Away - ah I see it's Clarissa .. and catching villains .. this should be fun .. see you there & yes - I'd love to do it again (please!).. Hilary
Interesting post and LOTS of great comments. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Susanne .. thanks for coming by .. yes - it's been amazing with the comments .. I love the interaction. I loved finding about the history of villein to villain - that was fun .. cheers Hilary
Wow, what an interesting post. Word origins always fascinate me. Thanks for giving a "word nerd" (that's me) a new fun fact for the day.
Hi Karie Marie .. I think your 'word-nerd' label is rather a good one .. so delighted to hear that you enjoyed this. Great to meet you here .. Hilary
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