serfdom
UK: ˈsɜːfdəm | US: ˈsɜːrfdəm
n. a feudal system in which peasants are bound to the land and subject to the authority of a lord
n. the state or condition of being a serf
serfdom = serf<peasant> + dom<state/condition>
- serf: From Old French serf (Latin servus, meaning "slave" or "servant"), referring to a peasant bound to feudal service.
- dom: A suffix of Old English origin (from -dōm), denoting a state, condition, or domain (e.g., freedom, kingdom).
Etymology Origin:
The word serfdom combines serf, reflecting the feudal peasant class, with -dom, a suffix indicating a state or condition. Historically, it encapsulates the rigid social hierarchy of medieval Europe, where serfs were tied to the land and obligated to serve their lords. The term evolved to symbolize systemic oppression and lack of autonomy.
Serfdom was abolished in Russia in 1861 under Tsar Alexander II.
The novel depicts the harsh realities of life under serfdom.
Many peasants resisted the injustices of serfdom through small acts of defiance.
The decline of serfdom marked a shift toward more modern labor systems.
Historians debate whether serfdom stifled economic growth in feudal societies.