Meaning & Definition of word "Servitude"
Servitude
/ˈsɜːrvɪˌtjuːd/
noun:
- 1. The state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful.
- Example: The convicts were condemned to a life of servitude, working tirelessly for their release.
- 2. A legal right of one landowner to use the land of another for a specified purpose.
- Example: The property had an easement that allowed servitude for access to the nearby lake.
- 3. The condition of being in service to others, often involving hard labor.
- Example: Many peasant families lived in servitude to wealthy landowners throughout the feudal system.
Etymology
●Middle English, from Old French 'servitude', from Latin 'servitudo', from 'servus' meaning 'slave'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
slavery or servitude:
The condition of being a slave.
bondage and servitude:
A state of being enslaved or subjected to harsh treatment.
voluntary servitude:
A situation where someone agrees to serve in exchange for something.
Related Words
slave:
A person who is legally owned by another and is forced to work for them.
serf:
A laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.
indentured servant:
A person under contract to work for another person for a specified time.
Slang Meanings of servitude
Meaning: Life of a dog
● Example Sentence: Working that job feels like a life of a dog, just total servitude.
Meaning: Under the thumb
● Example Sentence: Once she started dating him, it was like she was under the thumb, living in servitude.