Serfdom (Noun)
Meaning
The state of a serf.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The peasants were trapped in a life of serfdom, forced to work the land for their lord in exchange for protection and a small plot to call their own.
- The abolition of serfdom in the 19th century marked a significant turning point in the struggle for social justice and equality.
- Life in serfdom was harsh and unforgiving, with long hours of labor and few opportunities for advancement or escape.
- The institution of serfdom had been a cornerstone of medieval society, but it was slowly being eroded by the rise of a money economy and the growth of cities.
- Despite the formal end of serfdom, many peasants continued to live in a state of virtual serfdom, bound to the land and subject to the whims of their former masters.