Meaning & Definition of word "Slave"
Slave
/sleɪv/
noun:
- 1. A person who is legally owned by another and is forced to work for that person without pay.
- Example: The plantation owner had many slaves working in the fields.
- 2. A person who is severely oppressed or controlled by another person or an institution.
- Example: He felt like a slave to his demanding job, with no time for himself.
- 3. A device or component that is controlled by another device (the master) in a system.
- Example: In the computer network, one computer acted as the master while the others were slaves.
Etymology
●From Old French 'esclave', from Latin 'sclavus', from the Byzantine Greek 'sklabos', meaning Slav.
Common Phrases and Expressions
slave to the grind:
Someone who works tirelessly, especially at a job they dislike.
wage slave:
A person who depends on wages for a living and has little control over their life.
slave away:
To work very hard for a long period of time.
Related Words
freeman:
A person who is not a slave; someone who has freedom.
servitude:
The state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful.
bondage:
The state of being bound to someone as a slave.
Slang Meanings of slave
Meaning: A worker who is overworked and underpaid.
● Example Sentence: I feel like a slave to my job with these long hours.
Meaning: Someone who is deeply devoted to or obsessed with something.
● Example Sentence: He's a slave to his video games, playing all weekend.