View synonyms for serf

serf

[ surf ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person in a condition of feudal servitude, required to render services to a lord, commonly attached to the lord's land and transferred with it from one owner to another.
Synonyms: peasant, villein, vassal
a worker who is underpaid, overworked, or otherwise exploited:
Today's service-sector serfs are fighting for the most basic of job perks: a decent paycheck, a stable schedule, and paid time off when they are sick.
Obsolete. a person held in bondage or slavery.

serf

/ sɜːf /

(esp in medieval Europe) an unfree person, esp one bound to the land. If his lord sold the land, the serf was passed on to the new landlord

serf

Under feudalism , a peasant bound to his lord's land and subject to his lord's will, but entitled to his lord's protection.

Origin of serf¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Old French, from Latin servus “slave”

Origin of serf¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin servus a slave; see serve

"Fergan must have remained behind in the quarry where he cuts stone," remarked another serf.

The bailiff having finished his reading, beckoned to a serf named Peter the Lame.

The imprecations and the foot-falls of the serf alone interrupted the silence of the night.

Accidentally the bailiff caught sight of the blind serf, mutilated of his four limbs.

The young serf had a somberer and wilder look, her tears had dried, but her eyes shot lightning.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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