servitude
[ sur-vi-tood, -tyood ]
/ ˈsɜr vɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /
noun
slavery or bondage of any kind: political or intellectual servitude.
compulsory service or labor as a punishment for criminals: penal servitude.
Law.
a right possessed by one person to use another's property.
Origin of servitude
1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin
servitūdō, equivalent to
servi-, combining form of
servus slave +
-tūdō,
-tude
SYNONYMS FOR servitude
Words nearby servitude
servile,
servile work,
serving,
servite,
servitor,
servitude,
servius tullius,
servlet,
servo,
servo system,
servo-
Example sentences from the Web for servitude
British Dictionary definitions for servitude
servitude
/ (ˈsɜːvɪˌtjuːd) /
noun
the state or condition of a slave; bondage
the state or condition of being subjected to or dominated by a person or thing
servitude to drink
law
a burden attaching to an estate for the benefit of an adjoining estate or of some definite person
See also easement
short for penal servitude
Word Origin for servitude
C15: via Old French from Latin
servitūdō, from
servus a slave