from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Slave \Slave\ (sl[=a]v), n. [Cf. F. esclave, D. slaaf, Dan.
slave, sclave, Sw. slaf, all fr. G. sklave, MHG. also slave,
from the national name of the Slavonians, or Sclavonians (in
LL. Slavi or Sclavi), who were frequently made slaves by the
Germans. See {Slav}.]
1. A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is
wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as
a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose
person and services are wholly under the control of
another.
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Art thou our slave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge?
--Milton.
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2. One who has lost the power of resistance; one who
surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to
passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.
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3. A drudge; one who labors like a slave.
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4. An abject person; a wretch. --Shak.
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{Slave ant} (Zool.), any species of ants which is captured
and enslaved by another species, especially {Formica
fusca} of Europe and America, which is commonly enslaved
by {Formica sanguinea}.
{Slave catcher}, one who attempted to catch and bring back a
fugitive slave to his master.
{Slave coast}, part of the western coast of Africa to which
slaves were brought to be sold to foreigners.
{Slave driver}, one who superintends slaves at their work;
hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster.
{Slave hunt}.
(a) A search after persons in order to reduce them to
slavery. --Barth.
(b) A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with
bloodhounds.
{Slave ship}, a vessel employed in the slave trade or used
for transporting slaves; a slaver.
{Slave trade}, the business of dealing in slaves, especially
of buying them for transportation from their homes to be
sold elsewhere.
{Slave trader}, one who traffics in slaves.
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Syn: Bond servant; bondman; bondslave; captive; henchman;
vassal; dependent; drudge. See {Serf}.
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