Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Slave?

\Slave\, n. See {Slav}.
\Slave\, n. [Cf. F. esclave, D. slaaf, Dan. slave, sclave, Sw. slaf, all fr. G. sklave, MHG. also slave, from the national name of the Slavonians, or Sclavonians (in LL. Slavi or Sclavi), who were frequently made slaves by the Germans. See {Slav}.] 1. A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another. thou our slave, Our captive, at the public mill our drudge? --Milton. 2. One who has lost the power of resistance; one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition. 3. A drudge; one who labors like a slave. 4. An abject person; a wretch. --Shak. {Slave ant} (Zo["o]l.), any species of ants which is captured and enslaved by another species, especially {Formica fusca} of Europe and America, which is commonly enslaved by {Formica sanguinea}. {Slave catcher}, one who attempted to catch and bring back a fugitive slave to his master. {Slave coast}, part of the western coast of Africa to which slaves were brought to be sold to foreigners. {Slave driver}, one who superintends slaves at their work; hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster. {Slave hunt}. (a) A search after persons in order to reduce them to slavery. --Barth. (b) A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with bloodhounds. {Slave ship}, a vessel employed in the slave trade or used for transporting slaves; a slaver. {Slave trade}, the business of dealing in slaves, especially of buying them for transportation from their homes to be sold elsewhere. {Slave trader}, one who traffics in slaves. Syn: Bond servant; bondman; bondslave; captive; henchman; vassal; dependent; drudge. See {Serf}.
\Slave\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Slaved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Slaving}.] To drudge; to toil; to labor as a slave.
\Slave\, v. t. To enslave. --Marston.