thralldom

• thraldom

From Middle English thraldom, þraldom; equivalent to thrall +‎ -dom. Compare Danish trældom, Norwegian trelldom, Swedish träldom.

• IPA^(key): /ˈθɹɔːl.dəm/

thralldom (countable and uncountable, plural thralldoms)

1. A state of bondage, slavery, or subjugation to another person.

   Synonym: thrall

   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     For ye into like thraldome me did throw,
     And kept from complishing the faith which I did owe.

   • c. 1625–1632 (date written), Iohn Ford [i.e., John Ford], The Broken Heart. A Tragedy. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Hugh Beeston, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, signatures B, verso – B2, recto:

     Beauteous Penthea […] is novv ſo yoak'd / To a moſt barbarous thraldome, miſery, / Affliction, that [s]he ſauors not humanity.