penal servitude

Servitude \Serv"i*tude\, n. [L. servitudo: cf. F. servitude.]
   1. The state of voluntary or compulsory subjection to a
      master; the condition of being bound to service; the
      condition of a slave; slavery; bondage; hence, a state of
      slavish dependence.
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            You would have sold your king to slaughter,
            His princes and his peers to servitude. --Shak.
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            A splendid servitude; . . . for he that rises up
            early, and goes to bed late, only to receive
            addresses, is really as much abridged in his freedom
            as he that waits to present one.      --South.
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   2. Servants, collectively. [Obs.]
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            After him a cumbrous train
            Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude.
                                                  --Milton.
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   3. (Law) A right whereby one thing is subject to another
      thing or person for use or convenience, contrary to the
      common right.
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   Note: The object of a servitude is either to suffer something
         to be done by another, or to omit to do something, with
         respect to a thing. The easements of the English
         correspond in some respects with the servitudes of the
         Roman law. Both terms are used by common law writers,
         and often indiscriminately. The former, however, rather
         indicates the right enjoyed, and the latter the burden
         imposed. --Ayliffe. Erskine. E. Washburn.
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   {Penal servitude}. See under {Penal}.

   {Personal servitude} (Law), that which arises when the use of
      a thing is granted as a real right to a particular
      individual other than the proprietor.

   {Predial servitude} (Law), that which one estate owes to
      another estate. When it related to lands, vineyards,
      gardens, or the like, it is called rural; when it related
      to houses and buildings, it is called urban.
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Penal \Pe"nal\, a. [L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F.
   p['e]nal. See {Pain}.]
   Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes
   and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as:
   (a) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue;
       the penal code.
   (b) Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penal
       act or offense.
   (c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment;
       as, a penal colony or settlement. "Adamantine chains and
       penal fire." --Milton.
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   {Penal code} (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and
      offenses and their punishment.

   {Penal laws}, {Penal statutes} (Law), laws prohibiting
      certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them.
      

   {Penal servitude}, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison,
      in lieu of transportation. [Great Brit.]

   {Penal suit}, {Penal action} (Law), a suit for penalties.
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