different between thrall vs subservience

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /???l/, /???l/
• Rhymes: -??l

Etymology 1

From Middle English thral, thralle, threl, threlle, from Old English þr?l (“thrall, slave, servant”), from Old Norse þræll (“slave”), from Proto-Germanic *þrahilaz, *þragilaz, *þrigilaz (“runner, gofer, servant”), from Proto-Indo-European *tr?g?- (“to pull, drag, race, run”); according to ODS probably related to Gothic ???????????????????????????? (þragjan), Old English þr??an (“to run”).

Noun

thrall (plural thralls)

1. One who is enslaved or under mind control.
   • 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, The Physician's Tale,

     My servant, which that is my thrall by right

   • 1886-88, Richard F. Burton, The Supplemental Nights to the Thousand Nights and a Night:

     Hereat its Marid appeared and said to him, "Adsum! thy thrall between thy hands is come: ask of me whatso thou wantest."
2. (uncountable) The state of being under the control of another person.
3. A shelf; a stand for barrels, etc.

Related terms

• thralldom

Translations

Adjective

thrall (comparative more thrall, superlative most thrall)

1. (archaic) Enthralled; captive.
   • 1536, Thomas Wyatt, Satire I:

     Rather than to live thrall, under the awe

     Of lordly lokes, wrapped within my cloke […]

Etymology 2

From Middle English thrallen, from the noun above. Compare Old Norse þræla.

Verb

thrall (third-person singular simple present thralls, present participle thralling, simple past and past participle thralled)

1. To make a thrall; enslave.

Related terms

• enthrall

References

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

subservience (usually uncountable, plural subserviences)

1. The state of being subservient.

Translations