slave

[ sleyv ]

noun

1. a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another and forced to provide unpaid labor.
2. a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person:

   She was a slave to her own ambition.

3. a drudge:

   a housekeeping slave.

4. a slave ant.
5. Photography. a subsidiary flash lamp actuated through its photoelectric cell when the principal flash lamp is discharged.
6. Machinery, Computers. a device or process under control of or repeating the actions of a similar device or process. Compare master ( def 21 ).

verb (used without object)

, slaved, slav·ing.

1. to work like a slave; drudge.

   Synonyms: grind, slog, labor, toil

2. to engage in the slave trade; procure, transport, or sell slaves.

verb (used with object)

, slaved, slav·ing.

1. Machinery, Computers. to connect (a device) to a master as its slave.
2. Archaic. to enslave.

slave

/ sleɪv /

noun

1. a person legally owned by another and having no freedom of action or right to property
2. a person who is forced to work for another against his will
3. a person under the domination of another person or some habit or influence

   a slave to television

4. a person who works in harsh conditions for low pay
5. 1. a device that is controlled by or that duplicates the action of another similar device (the master device)
   2. ( as modifier )

      slave cylinder

verb

1. introften foll byaway to work like a slave
2. tr an archaic word for enslave

Other Words From

• slaveless adjective
• slavelike adjective
• pro·slave adjective
• semi·slave noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of slave¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sclave (also slave ), from Old French escla(i)ve, and Medieval Latin sclāvus (masculine), sclāva (feminine) “slave,” special use of Sclāvus “Slavic, a Slav, slave” (Latin does not tolerate the consonant cluster sl- and employs the cluster scl- instead); so called because Slavs in Central Europe and the Balkans were commonly enslaved in the early Middle Ages; Slav

Word History and Origins

Origin of slave¹

C13: via Old French from Medieval Latin Sclāvus a Slav, one held in bondage (from the fact that the Slavonic races were frequently conquered in the Middle Ages), from Late Greek Sklabos a Slav

Example Sentences

“They are the vehicles who carry an army of souls of men and women who have been deported during slave trade, an army of dispossessed souls. They also represent the vast diaspora, the contemporary one.”

From Los Angeles Times

“To depict a female gladiator or a slave nude was really no big deal,” McCollough noted at the time.

From Salon

All that counts is our ancient electoral college system, rooted in the Founders’ appeasement of Southern slave states.

From Los Angeles Times

But my oldest daughter said, "If things change hands and the future president brings slavery back, will you pretend I'm a slave but let me do whatever I want?"

From Salon

Published in March to widespread critical acclaim,“James” is told from the perspective of Jim, the escaped slave who joins Twain’s protagonist Huckleberry Finn on his journey down the Mississippi River.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• toil
• work