serf — A feudal tenant farmer bound to work on their lord's estate
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A feudal tenant farmer bound to work on their lord's estate
Pronunciation (IPA): /sɜːrf/
Example Sentences
- Unlike a slave, a serf couldn't be sold but was tied to the land forever.
- The serf dreamed of becoming a knight but ended up just surfing through medieval Wikipedia all day.
- When the lord demanded more taxes, the serf realized he was living in medieval times, not playing a video game.
serf
NOUN[/sɜːrf/]
A feudal tenant farmer bound to work on their lord's estate
A feudal tenant farmer bound to work on their lord's estate
The serf leaves his turf to chase the surf!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin servus (slave), which passed into Old French as serf and subsequently into Middle English. In feudal society, it came to denote the specific status of a peasant bound to the land, occupying a position between slavery and freedom.
Breakdown
Latin servus (slave) > Old French serf > Middle English serf, ultimately referring to an unfree agricultural laborer bound to a feudal lord's estate rather than a chattel slave.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Unlike a slave, a serf couldn't be sold but was tied to the land forever.”
“The serf dreamed of becoming a knight but ended up just surfing through medieval Wikipedia all day.”
“When the lord demanded more taxes, the serf realized he was living in medieval times, not playing a video game.”
“The liberation of serfs marked the end of feudalism in many European countries.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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