Without fiefdoms structuring the distribution of land, the division of labor, and the provision of military protection, agents of state coercion were needed to ensure that former serfs would serve as wage laborers.
—
Sophie Landres,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2026
The copper rivets, still used across jean designs today, were initially added to prevent rips frequently experienced by miners and other laborers.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.