slave

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who is owned by another person and forced to work for them without pay.

   The slaves were finally freed after years of cruel treatment.

2. 2
   noun

   Someone completely controlled by a habit, feeling, or influence.

   He is a slave to fashion and buys every new style.

3. 3
   verb

   To work extremely hard.

   I was slaving all day over a hot stove to cook the dinner.

Inherited from Middle English sclave, from Old French sclave, from Medieval Latin sclavus (“slave”), from Late Latin Sclavus (“Slav”), traditionally assumed to be because Slavs were often forced into slavery in the Middle Ages. The Latin word is from Byzantine Greek Σκλάβος (Sklábos); see that entry and Slav for more. Displaced native Old English þēow. Thrall and bondsman/bondswoman, however, remain common synonyms. Doublet of ciao and Slav. An alternative hypothesis derives sclavus from Ancient Greek σκῡλεύω (skūleúō), σκῡλάω (skūláō, “to strip or despoil a slain enemy”).

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