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slave definition

slave (slāv)

noun

  1. a human being who is owned as property by, and is absolutely subject to the will of, another; bondservant divested of all freedom and personal rights
  2. a person who is completely dominated by some influence, habit, person, etc. a slave to fashion
  3. a person who slaves; drudge
  4. slave ant
  5. a device actuated or controlled by another, similar device

Etymology: ME sclave < OFr or ML: OFr esclave < ML sclavus, slave, orig., Slav < LGr Sklabos, ult. < OSlav Slovēne, native name of a Slavic people: first used of captives of Slavic orig. in SE Europe

intransitive verb slaved, slaving slav′·ing

  1. to work like a slave; drudge
  2. to deal in slaves; be a slaver

transitive verb

Archaic to enslave

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