Villeinage (Noun)
Meaning 1
The legal status or condition of servitude of a villein or feudal serf.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The medieval lord exercised complete control over the peasants living in a state of villeinage on his estate.
- Villeinage was a common feature of the feudal systems in Europe during the Middle Ages.
- In England, the Norman Conquest led to the widespread imposition of villeinage on the indigenous population.
- The Black Death in the 14th century led to a significant decline in villeinage as the labor shortage gave peasants greater bargaining power.
- The economic growth of the 15th century eventually led to the decline of villeinage and its replacement by wage labor.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Tenure by which a villein held land.
Classification
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession.