slavery English · revision 6761

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1551}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsleɪvəɹi/, /ˈsleɪvɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[slave]] and [[-ery]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Severe toil like a slave's, drudgery: 1551 in the OED and MWU, the 1550s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Base conduct befitting a slave is a rare obsolete sense of 1553.^(OED 1989) The condition of being a slave, entire subjection to another's will, is from the 1570s in Etymonline; the OED dates the figurative subjection from 1577 and the literal condition from 1604.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The keeping of slaves, slaves existing as a class, is from 1728.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A separate adjective ''slavery'', covered with slaver (drool), is from about 1430.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1551 – drudgery.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1577 – subjection to some influence.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1604 – the condition of a slave.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1728 – the keeping of slaves.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The condition of being a [[slave]]; [[bondage]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The practice or system of owning slaves.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The state of being dominated by an influence or habit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Hard, badly paid work; [[drudgery]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antislavery]]

+ * [[preslavery]]

+ * [[proslavery]]

+ * [[white slavery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[slave]]

+ * [[slaver]]

+ * [[Slav]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}