A principal or chief villain; a supremely evil or wicked character, especially in literature or drama.
From 'arch-' (chief) plus 'villain' (from Old French 'vilain', originally a peasant or serf, later meaning an evil person). The compound became popular in dramatic and literary contexts.
Every great story needs an 'archvillain'—think Voldemort or Lex Luthor. The term shows how narratives require a hierarchy of evil, with one supreme antagonist to oppose the hero!
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