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villenage

noun vil·len·age \ ˈvi-lə-nij \

Definition of villenage

1 : tenure at the will of a feudal lord by villein services

2 : the status of a villein

Origin and Etymology of villenage

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from vilein, vilain

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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