Villainy is to villain as XXX is to victim?
Sorry I couldn't think of a better way of explaining this
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4AHDEL and Collins give victimhood, but I'd say this is rarely used. But you could have found this by looking up 'victim'.– Edwin AshworthCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 0:28
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How 'bout helplessness?– JimCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 0:42
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"Victimhood" has gathered new life in the jargon of American sociology. This link to a NY Times OpEd piece takes a long look down this rabbit-hole.– Rob_SterCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 2:47
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victimhood. If I were to try to transpose, "that is an example of utmost villany" into a similar phrase with "victim," I'd use victimhood.– steveslivaCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 5:18
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2 Answers
I believe the word you are looking for is victimisation.
The relationship between the words can also be observed in the title of a BookRags article called "Does Shakespeare present the character of 'Shylock' as Villainous or Victimised?" and various other sources across the internet.
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1Seems like "victimization" is more about the process of becoming a victim, whereas "villainy" describes an ongoing attribute.– DaveMCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 0:56
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That is an interesting take, though I feel it can be defined more broadly. In 'I was victimized', the past tense does not imply that I am no longer a victim. Mental or physical, the effect of victimization may be an ongoing thing. 'Villainy' seems more of a label ('He still indulges in villainy'), with the 'ongoing attribute' being better described as 'villainous' ('He is still his villainous old self'). I would also consider that from villainy comes the villain, as the victim comes from victimisation (OK, the villain bit might not be worded right, but I hope that I make sense there).– TerahCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 1:02
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2Fair enough. If one were to come to a fork in the road at which one had to choose one life or the other, though, I think it would more likely be between villainy and victimhood...– DaveMCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 1:09
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I Agree, and in retrospect, 'victimisation' does seem to describe more of a process than a state of being, as victimhood does. It would depend on the context and how the rest of an actual sentence would be phrased, I guess.– TerahCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 1:18
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@Terah - I reckon you have it right. A villain commits villainy (over and over again; an ongoing occupation). A victim suffers victimisation (over and over; an ongoing ordeal).– DanCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 1:51
Victimisation is an active verb pertaining to making someone else into a victim, not the state of being a victim. I think victimhood is the most accurate way of saying what you're trying to say - I have been trying to find the right word for it for a while, it's pretty frustrating haha
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Please explain your answer, preferably with some supporting statements and references. :)– NVZ ♦Commented Dec 6, 2016 at 16:06