SERF Meaning and
Definition
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A serf is historically defined as an individual who is bound to and legally obligated to work on a specific plot of land owned by a lord or noble in a feudal society. Functioning as a subservient agricultural laborer, the serf is compelled to toil on the land and provide various goods or services for the landowner. Serfdom emerged during the Middle Ages and prevailed throughout Europe until the 18th and 19th centuries, when it gradually diminished due to significant social and economic changes.
The status of the serf is predominantly characterized by limited personal freedom, lack of property ownership, and the inability to move away from the land they are tied to without the consent of the landowner. In exchange for their work, a serf typically receives protection from the lord and is permitted to cultivate a small portion of the land for their own subsistence. However, any surplus produced by the serf is generally reclaimed by the landowner, further perpetuating the serf's reliance on the lord.
The serf's living conditions are often harsh, as they are subject to the whims and demands of their lord. They are frequently subject to heavy taxation and are required to provide labor for repairing roads, maintaining infrastructure, and defending the landowner's estate. Serfdom, as a system of society, created a clear hierarchy within feudalism, with the serfs being at the bottom, and the noble and lordly classes positioned at the pinnacle, enjoying significant privileges and wielding great power and authority.
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The lowest class of servants or slaves in the dark ages, who were attached to the soil and transferred with it.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for SERF
Etymology of SERF
The word "serf" can be traced back to the Latin word "servus", meaning "slave" or "servant". In Latin, "servus" was used to refer to individuals who were legally bound to live and work on a specific piece of land, under the control of a lord or master. Over time, the word evolved and was adopted into various Romance languages, including Old French, where it became "serf" and retained the same meaning. In medieval times, the term "serf" specifically referred to a peasant legally bound to a feudal lord, having limited rights and being subject to various obligations.
Similar spelling words for SERF
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