servitude

[ sur-vi-tood, -tyood ]

noun

1. slavery or bondage of any kind:

   political or intellectual servitude.

   Synonyms: serfdom, thralldom

   Antonyms: liberty

2. compulsory service or labor as a punishment for criminals:

   penal servitude.

3. Law. a right possessed by one person to use another's property.

servitude

/ ˈsɜːvɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. the state or condition of a slave; bondage
2. the state or condition of being subjected to or dominated by a person or thing

   servitude to drink

3. law a burden attaching to an estate for the benefit of an adjoining estate or of some definite person See also easement
4. short for penal servitude

Word History and Origins

Origin of servitude¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin servitūdō, equivalent to servi-, combining form of servus “slave” + -tūdō, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of servitude¹

C15: via Old French from Latin servitūdō, from servus a slave

Synonym Study

See slavery.

Example Sentences

It brought disease, servitude and so many things that weren’t good for Wampanoags and other Indigenous cultures.

From Washington Post

Single women’s wage-earning was curtailed by a regime of compulsory servitude.

From Washington Post

The hours are long and there’s a rank smell of indentured servitude.

From Nautilus

This amendment prohibited denying a person to vote based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

From TruthBeTold.news

These women are exploited for several purposes, including labor, forced-marriage, and domestic servitude.

From No Straight News

If the indentured-servitude thesis is correct, it should be a pretty low number, right?

From The Daily Beast

Trapped in the cycle of permanent emergency and perpetual action, he wrote, “servitude has no rest, agitation no pleasure.”

From The Daily Beast

But the rush to replace words with images may be preparing us for servitude.

From The Daily Beast

The white Hempstead, for instance, worked his way out of indentured servitude, the next step up from slavery.

From The Daily Beast

“I tried to kill myself twice,” says Atia, now 14 and still living in servitude.

From The Daily Beast

But by the pleasure led,Of that sweet likeness, that allured me so,A long and heavy servitude to bear.

From Project Gutenberg

They require, and in many instances they merit, all that can be done to alleviate a situation of servitude.

From Project Gutenberg

The seigneurs imposed servitude, the friars preached resignation, and the people of Gaul became cowardly, selfish and cruel.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand they were likely to prove intractable and ungovernable, and many preferred even suicide to servitude.

From Project Gutenberg

Indifferent was M. Louis, for whom it was the last day of servitude, a slave become emancipated, rich enough to enjoy his ransom.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bondage
• enslavement
• serfdom
• subjugation