adj.
Pronunciation: ' v ī (- ə )l
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: vil · er \ ' v ī -l ə r \ ; vil · est \ -l ə st \
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vil, from Latin vilis
Date: 14th century
1 a : morally despicable or abhorrent <nothing is so vile as intellectual dishonesty> b : physically repulsive : FOUL <a vile slum>
2 : of little worth or account : COMMON also : MEAN
3 : tending to degrade < vile employments>
4 : disgustingly or utterly bad : OBNOXIOUS , CONTEMPTIBLE < vile weather> <had a vile temper>
synonyms see BASE
– vile · ly \ ' v ī (- ə )l-l ē \ adverb
– vile · ness noun