slave

¹slave

noun \ˈslāv\

Definition of SLAVE

1

: a person held in servitude as the chattel of another

2

: one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence

3

: a device (as the printer of a computer) that is directly responsive to another

4

: drudge, toiler

— slave adjective

Examples of SLAVE

1. He treats her like a slave.
2. Do it yourself! I'm not your slave!

Origin of SLAVE

Middle English sclave, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French esclave, from Medieval Latin sclavus, from Sclavus Slavic; from the frequent enslavement of Slavs in central Europe during the early Middle Ages

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SLAVE

Synonyms: bondman (also bondsman), chattel, thrall

Antonyms: freeman

Related Words: bondwoman (also bondswoman), odalisque; helot, serf; bond servant, indentured servant; attendant, domestic, drudge, handmaiden (also handmaid), lackey, menial, servant, slavey

Near Antonyms: freedman, freedwoman; enslaver, slave driver, slaveholder, slaver; master, taskmaster

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with SLAVE

brave, cave, clave, crave, fave, glaive, grave, knave, lave, nave, pave, rave, save, shave, stave, waive, wave, Wave