villain
Translation
villain, baddie
Examples
He plays the villain in the new movie.
He plays the villain in the new movie.
The villain of the story is very clever.
The villain of the story is very clever.
Grammar Patterns
the villain ((of sth.)) the main bad character in a story, play, etc. The villain of the story is very clever.
Similar Words
Synonyms: antagonist, scoundrel; Antonyms: hero, protagonist
Etymology
Originally from Latin 'villanus' meaning 'farmhand'. The meaning shifted from 'low-born' to 'evil'.
Memory Tips
The villain is the opposite of the hero in a story. All three words (villa, village, villain) come from the same Latin root.