thrall English · revision 1199

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /θɹɔːl/ ''(UK)''; /θɹɔl/, /θɹɑl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''thral'',^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) from Old English ''þrǣl'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[bor|non|þræll|t=slave, servant]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The Norse word probably comes from [[gem-pro|*þrahilaz]], literally “runner”, hence “attendant”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and is related to [[goh|dregil|t=servant]] and [[got|𐌸𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=þragjan|t=to run]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person held in bondage, a serf or slave (about 950).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A thrall was usually a war captive who accepted servitude instead of death, or a freeman sentenced to it for crimes, and the status passed to children.^(Etymonline) From the start the word was also used figuratively of someone enslaved to some power or influence.^(OED 1989) The condition of servitude, ''in thrall'', is recorded before 1325,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and today the phrase often means a state of complete absorption or fascination.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 950 – a bondman or slave.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1200 – ''thraldom''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1205 – verb, to enslave.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1325 – bondage, servitude.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person held in bondage, such as a [[slave]] or [[serf]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person enslaved intellectually or morally by some power or influence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # The state of servitude or submission; [[bondage]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A state of complete absorption or fascination.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To [[enslave]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[thralldom]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[enthrall]]

+ * [[inthrall]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}