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vile

adjective

  1. disgusting
L19168 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /vaɪ(ə)l/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English vile, vyle, vyl, from Anglo-Norman ville, Old French vil, vile, from Latin vīlis.

  1. Morally low; base; despicable.

    vile accusation

    vile man

  2. Causing physical or mental repulsion; horrid.

    I glimpsed a vile squid-like creature in the depths.

    The medicine had a vile taste and smell.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English vile, vyle, vyl, from Anglo-Norman ville, Old French vil, vile, from Latin vīlis.

  1. That which is vile; vileness.

    “I had seen those two work before—in the smoking-room the day prior to their attack on you, if I recollect it correctly, and so, knowing their methods, I am convinced that their enmity is a sufficient guarantee of the integrity of its object. Men such as they must cleave only to the vile, hating all that is noblest and best.”