You searched for:
“serf”
serf
1. An agricultural worker, especially in feudal Europe, who cultivated land belonging to a landowner, and who was bought and sold with the land.
2. An agricultural worker under various similar systems; especially, in the 18th century and the 19th century Russia and eastern Europe.
3. Someone who is in bondage or servitude.
4. Etymology: from the late 15th century, "slave"; from Middle French (about 1400 to 1600) serf; from Latin servum, servus, "slave".
2. An agricultural worker under various similar systems; especially, in the 18th century and the 19th century Russia and eastern Europe.
3. Someone who is in bondage or servitude.
4. Etymology: from the late 15th century, "slave"; from Middle French (about 1400 to 1600) serf; from Latin servum, servus, "slave".
It fell from use in the original sense of "slave" by the 18th century. The meaning of "lowest class of cultivators of the soil in continental European countries" came from the 1610's.
This entry is located in the following unit:
serv- (slave)
(page 1)
serf, surf, surf
serf (SURF) (noun)
Someone in feudal times who was bound in servitude and who lived and worked on a estate which was usually owned by someone from the upper class: The serf worked hard, hoping that some day he would be able to rise to a higher social level and own property.
surf (SURF) (noun)
A wave of the sea that breaks onto the shore: Jamie could hear the sound of the surf lashing and pounding on the beach from his resort hotel.
surf (SURF) (verb)
1. To ride the large waves of the sea towards the shore by using a specially designed board: Janet's boyfriend tried to surf the big billows of ocean water in Hawaii.
2. To go on the internet or to watch television for recreation, education, or entertainment; frequently changing the site or channel: James likes to surf the internet looking for information that can provide sources of information for his university classes.
2. To go on the internet or to watch television for recreation, education, or entertainment; frequently changing the site or channel: James likes to surf the internet looking for information that can provide sources of information for his university classes.
He felt like a serf having to work so much all week; so, it was a relief on the weekend when he could surf the internet and learn some new things.
This entry is located in the following units:
Confusing Words Clarified: Group S; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(page 3)
serv- (slave)
(page 1)
A unit related to:
“serf”
(a Czech word, robota meaning "serf" or "slave" or "forced work" which is now applied to any manufactured device that is capable of doing work ordinarily done by human beings)