Main Entry: vile

Pronunciation: \ˈvī(-ə)l\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): vil·er \ˈvī-lər\; vil·est \-ləst\

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 \ˈvī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb

— vile·ness noun