serfdom etymology

Etymology:

  • Old English: seorfa, meaning "servitude"
  • Proto-Germanic: serbô, meaning "kinsman, servant"
  • Proto-Indo-European: *serbh-, *serb-, meaning "to protect, to serve"

Meaning and Origin:

Serfdom refers to a system of labor in which peasants were bound to the land and were not allowed to leave the property of their masters. They were legally tied to the estate and could be sold, bought, or inherited along with the land.

Serfdom developed in Europe during the Middle Ages, as large landowners sought to secure a reliable source of labor for their estates. Initially, serfs were free peasants who entered into agreements with landowners to work their land in exchange for protection and support. However, over time, these agreements became more exploitative, and serfs lost their freedom and became legally bound to the land.

In later centuries, serfdom spread to other parts of the world, including Russia, where it persisted until the late 19th century. Serfdom was finally abolished in most countries during the 1800s, as a result of social and economic changes, including the rise of capitalism and industrialization.

serfdom relate terms

  • serf

    Etymology Old French serf Late Latin servus slave Meaning A person who is boun

  • serve

    Etymology From Middle English serven from Old French servir from Latin servīre to

  • doom

    Etymology The word doom comes from the Old English word dōm which has several mean

  • servitude

    Etymology Middle French servitude Old French servitude Latin servitūs slavery se

  • native

    Etymology Native derives from the Old and Middle English word natif which in turn c

  • thrall

    Etymology The word thrall originates from the Old Norse word þræll which meant sl

  • derogatory

    Etymology The word derogatory comes from the Latin adjective derogatorius which mean

  • profit

    Etymology The word profit comes from the Latin word profectus meaning progress or

  • lugubrious

    Etymology From Latin lugubris mournful dismal from Proto Indo European s leug

  • help

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words and phrases It inves

  • compassion

    Etymology Latin compassio suffering together com with together passio su

  • authority

    Etymology The word authority comes from the Latin word auctoritas which means inf