Main Entry:

bond·age

Pronunciation:

\ˈbän-dij\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from bonde customary tenant, from Middle English

Date:

14th century

1: the tenure or service of a villein, serf, or slave2: a state of being bound usu. by compulsion (as of law or mastery): as a: captivity, serfdom b: servitude or subjugation to a controlling person or force <young people in bondage to drugs> 3: sadomasochistic sexual practices involving the physical restraint of one partner