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

"I became a digital slave until my friends exposed the scam," says Mr Mukhopadhyay.

From BBC

People, including local historians and councillors, have disagreed about putting a plaque on the plinth detailing Colston's slave trading past for several years.

From BBC

According to Easton, racial hierarchy in the United States followed what he called “European slavery” under “the Feudal system,” where “slaves were fixed to the soil.”

From Salon

Authorities across the US are investigating after reports of text messages sent to black Americans with references to “slave catchers”, plantations and picking cotton.

From BBC

The UK has faced growing calls from Commonwealth leaders to pay reparations for the country's role in the slave trade.

From BBC

Related Words

• toil
• work